Consistency Pays Off For Siddikur

Bangladesh's golfing icon Siddikur Rahman notched his second top-five finish of the Asian Tour season when he finished on joint fifth position in the inaugural Chiangmai Golf Classic in Thailand yesterday. The 28-year old golfer, who had an indifferent start to the season, finished on joint fifth position with an aggregate of 14-under-par 274.
Australia's Scott Hend clinched the title in scintillating fashion as he charged from six shots back to win the event by three strokes after a stunning eight-under-par 64 in the final round on Sunday.
Big-hitting Hend earned his third Asian Tour title in front of large crowds at the Alpine Golf Resort-Chiangmai, taking home the winner's cheque of 135,000 dollars with his four-day total of 20-under-par 268.
For Bangladesh's Siddikur, it was a story of consistent golf thoughout the four days, which has been very rare in the recent past. Siddikur, who had finished third in the SAIL-SBI Open in Delhi in March, notched scores of 69, 67, 69, and 69 in the four rounds of the Chiangmai Golf Classic.
Starting the fourth round on joint 11th position, Siddikur had a bit of a hiccup as he bogeyed on the third hole before recovering quickly to fire a birdie on the fifth and seventh holes. Siddikur finished with a flurry as he fired consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes.
The consistent performance earned Siddikur a paycheque of 22,305 dollars and a leap in the Asian Tour Order of Merit from 20th to 14th position.