Flawless Siddikur starts in top gear

Bangladesh's premier golfer Siddikur Rahman fired a flawless five-under-par (67) on the opening day of the Panasonic Open in Delhi yesterday to get a share of the second position.

Playing at one his more favoured courses where things usually go his way -- he has finished inside the top 10 in four of his five attempts at the Panasonic Open -- the two-time Asian Tour winner fired five birdies at the Delhi Golf Club and found himself just one stroke behind clubhouse leader Suradit Yongcharoenchai of Thailand, who hit seven birdies and a bogey.

Tied for second in the $400,000-event with Siddikur are locals Ajeetesh Sandhu and Tapy Ghai. However, Siddikur was the only one among the top four to return a bogey-free round at a track where the 33-year-old won his second Asian Tour title.

"It was an excellent day out there. I hit the ball well and my putting was great as well. I am really happy with my round. I have a lot of great memories on this golf course. I won on this course five years ago and I have played well here on several other occasions," Siddikur said, referencing the 2013 Hero Indian Open which he won here with a 14-under-par (274).

"I always think about all these good memories whenever I come to play here. It always inspires me. I don't think there will be any changes in my game plan moving forward. I hope to continue playing the same way I did today," he added.

Among other Bangladeshi golfers, Jamal Hossain Mollah finished with a par score, exchanging three birdies for as many bogeys, while Shakhawat Sohel also hit par with four birdies and four bogeys. They were tied for 46th place along with 14 others.

However, the day did not go quite as well for Dulal Hossain. He carded four bogeys and a double-bogey while managing only two birdies to languish in joint-104th position with a four-over-par (76).