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DAY 1

March 23rd 2011, New Delhi: Siddikur of Bangladesh produced what he claimed was excellent play after he took a share of the second round lead with Akinori Tani of Japan and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand at the SAIL Open on Wednesday.

Siddikur, Tani and Kiradech returned on matching five-under-par 67s for a two-day total of nine-under-par 135 to hold a one stroke lead at the Delhi Golf Club.

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar (69), Ajeetesh Sandhu (67) and Prom Meesawat (68) of Thailand were tied in fourth on a 136 total in the US$300,000 showpiece co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGTI.

Siddikur, who has been in sensational form since winning the Brunei Open last year, posted three birdies in each half but slipped back with a bogey on the last hole.

“I’m happy with what I shot these two days. It was excellent play. I have been playing well because I’ve been hitting good and my short game has been perfect. Everything seems to be falling into place for me,” said the 26-year-old.

Siddikur said India was like a second home to him. “I started my golf career on the PGTI and India feels like my second home. This is a very challenging course and every shot is very important especially the tee shot. I’m looking forward to the next two days,” he added.

Kiradech registered a hat-trick of birdies from the fourth hole before adding a bogey on the seventh hole. He recovered with a birdie on eight and tapped in for birdie on 17 followed by another three feet birdie on the last.

After making changes to his putting earlier this year, Kiradech believes he has found the missing link to winning his first Asian Tour title.

“I feel very comfortable with the new changes that I’ve made to my putting. I think with these new changes, I will be able to win on the Asian Tour,” said Kiradech, who came close to winning on the Asian Tour on four occasions last year.

Tani, who earned his Asian Tour card in Qualifying School earlier this year, was wary of the tight fairways at the Delhi Golf Club but took the risk of using his driver on nine holes.

“This course is very narrow but my strength in my game is accuracy and this golf course suits my game,” said the 36-year-old who has won twice on the Japan Challenge Tour.

“Many players don’t use their driver on this course but I used it at least nine times. It helped that I was hitting it straight and avoided the bushes. My irons were also solid as all my birdies dropped from inside 10 feet,” said Tani.

Home favourite Bhullar, a two-time Asian Tour champion, narrowly missed a hole-in-one on hole five when his tee shot landed two feet from the pin. With new irons in his golf bag, Bhullar is eyeing to make a move in the last two rounds.

“I've hit it very close over the last two days and I want to repeat this performance over the next two rounds,” said Bhullar.

Overnight leader Anirban Lahiri failed to mount a charge as he closed with a 71 for a 137 total, two strokes from the leaders. Highly rated Miguel Tabuena, 16, posted a 72 for a 141 total to make his first Asian Tour cut.

A total of 69 players made the halfway cut which was set at two-over-par 146.