Siddikur tied for lead at Philippine Open

Siddikur tied for lead at Philippine Open

MANILA: Siddikur Rahman fired his best score at the challenging Wack Wack Golf and Country Club to share the opening round lead with Chan Kim on six-under-par 66 at the ICTSI Philippine Open yesterday.

Siddikur Rahman in action at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Siddikur birdied the last hole from five feet to cap his best effort on the Wack Wack course where his previous low round was a 71 at the 2011 Philippine Open.

Little-known Rolando Marabe, a former caddy who turned professional in 1997, led the local charge after shooting a 69 to tie with four-time Asian Tour winner Chawalit Plaphol in third place.

EurAsia Cup star Prayad Marksaeng, Korea’s Park Byung-Joo, Michael Tran of Vietnam, Settee Prakongvech of Thailand and Australia’s Marcus Both were a further four shots off the leaders in joint fifth.

Siddikur, who was part of Team Asia who tied with Team Europe in the inaugural EurAsia Cup earlier this year, was delighted to rediscover his deft putting touch as he negotiated the tricky Wack Wack greens in 26 putts.

It was a welcome return to form for the popular Bangladeshi, who uncharacteristically missed the cut in his last two Asian Tour events.

“I was confident that my putting touch will come back. In golf sometimes you enjoy a good run of form and sometimes you don’t. I sank about 80 percent of my putts which reflected in my score on this golf course,” said the 29-year-old.

“This is not an easy course. It is a tight and narrow course with small greens. Every shot counts here. I was not disappointed with my form before today because my stats were still good except putting,” added Siddikur, a two-time Asian Tour winner.

Kim, winner of the 2013 Asian Tour Qualifying School, took advantage of a small change in his swing tempo to share the lead with Siddikur after trading seven birdies against one bogey.

He has some unfinished business at the Wack Wack course after missing the halfway cut at the 2013 Solaire Open by one shot at the same venue.

“Last year I shot one-over for the first round and thought, well that’s not a bad score. Then in the second round I shot a seven on the famous [par three] eighth hole! I couldn’t get any momentum after that and missed the cut by one. I’m happy I made par there today!” laughed Kim.

Filipino’s Marabe surprised even himself when he broke par for the first time on the Wack Wack course.

“I’m happy with my score. My putting was good and my irons were sharp. I’ve played here many times and this is my best score! It is actually the first time I shot under-par. I always shoot a 74 or 75 here,” said the 37-year-old Marabe.

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