By Rahul Banerji
Siddikur Rahman reaffirmed his fondness for the Delhi Golf Club as he stormed into a share of the 36-hole lead with Thai youngster Suradit Yongcharoenchai at the $400,000 Panasonic Open India on Friday.
The seasoned Bangladesh star now has rounds of 67 and 66 alongside Suradit (66, 67).
Young Ajeetesh Sandhu shot a second successive 5-under to sit one off the lead.
The leaderboard continued to have a liberal Indian presence as half the top 14 were home players. They also comprised just over a half of those making the cut, 38 out of 74.
Jeev on the move
Jeev Milkha Singh, with just two cuts in 15 starts in 2018 and one Top-5 finish since winning the 2012 Scottish Open, was tied sixth with Bangalore’s M. Dharma and four others.
A shot adrift in tied 12th were 53-year-old Mukesh Kumar (71-67), the 2016 Panasonic Open India champion; 23-year-old Aman Raj (70-68) and 17-year-old debutant pro Kshitij Naveed Kaul.
Suradit, who turns 20 on Sunday had a bogey-free 67, while Siddikur, a craftsman at the DGC, had eight birdies and two bogeys for the day’s best card of 66.
Siddikur gave himself three eagle putts, such was the quality of his hitting.
“I didn’t make any of the three,” said the smiling Siddikur later, “but I am still happy with the eight birdies (besides two bogeys).
“My strategy has been the same to keep it straight and give myself enough chances.”
Added Suradit, “I did nothing different from yesterday. The fairways are still playing firm.
“The pin positions are pretty much like yesterday as well. This Sunday’s my 20th birthday so I definitely hope I can win my first Asian Tour title here.
Clear focus
“I just want to play my game and focus on the tee shots, which are important if you want to play well on this course.”
Kaul and fellow pro-debutant Yuvraj Sandhu also shot 66s, but with contrasting fortunes. Kaul (72-66) made the cut was T12 but Sandhu, despite fighting back from his first round 81 with a 66 for a 15-shot swing, missed the cut by one.
Also going out was co-debutant Aadil Bedi (77-74).
The rejuvenated Jeev Milkha Singh wore a broad smile after he had turned in his card.
“It’s been a long time since I was interviewed, so it feels great. I am not sure when I last played so well and confidently.
“I was patient and I managed to hole a few putts coming in. I started from the back nine, made on birdie on the 17th where I holed a 10-footer.
“Made the turn at one-under and birdied the fourth hole from about 20 feet. On the seventh hole, I hit a good seven-iron shot to about 15 feet and holed that as well.
“Went on the birdie the eighth after chipping to about six feet and made that putt. Bogey-free 68, I am very pleased with myself.”
Jeev has made just two cuts in 15 starts this year with T18 in Taiwan as his best.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond was sole fourth while defending champion Shiv Kapur was tied 21st with a four-under par 140 for the first two days.
Also read: Fatal half step forward on a golf course
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