Chittagong, Bangladesh, April 1, 2017: Bangladeshi
golfing icon Md Siddikur Rahman lived up to the expectations of the home crowd
that turned up to cheer him at the Bhatiary Golf & Country Club (BGCC) in
Chittagong as he registered an imposing six-shot victory at the inaugural City
Bank American Express Chittagong Open on Saturday.
Siddikur shot a clinical two-under-70 in the final round to
keep the trophy in the host nation of Bangladesh . He ended the Rs. 40
lakh event with a remarkable 16-under-272 total.
Siddikur (69-66-67-70), the overnight leader by seven
strokes, drove home the advantage on the final day with considerable ease as
none of the other golfers posed any threat to his lead. As a result Siddikur
bagged his sixth title on the PGTI. It was also his first win on the tour since
his triumph in Dhaka exactly one year back.
The 32-year-old Rahman was three-under through 11
holes on Saturdayafter chipping-in for birdie on the fifth and also
setting up tap-in birdies on the 10th and 11th with a couple of
top-class chip shots. The two-time Asian Tour winner made another chip-in on
the 16th, his second of the round and fifth of the week, to cruise home despite
the bogeys on the 12th and 17th.
“My chipping was the best aspect of my game this week. I
made five chip-ins through the tournament. I didn’t leave myself too many long
putts, especially on the last day. I felt I kept up the intensity through the
final round and was therefore in total control.
“I was really excited and pumped up due to the massive crowd
that came out to cheer for me today. It feels really nice to win another
tournament in my home country Bangladesh .
This will give me loads of confidence for the rest of the Asian Tour season,”
said Siddikur, who is a leading celebrity in his country.
He added, “I would like to thank all the sponsors, the BPGA,
the PGTI and the Bhatiary Golf & Country Club, for making this event
happen. More such events in Bangladesh
will help raise the level of the sport in the country.”
Sanjeev Kumar (70-71-69-68) climbed from his overnight tied
third to second place courtesy his 68 in round four. Sanjeev, who struck six
birdies and two bogeys on Saturday, thus finished the event as the
highest-placed Indian golfer.
The 25-year-old Sanjeev’s career-best finish and second
top-10 of the season also propelled him from 12th to sixth position in the
PGTI Order of Merit.
Sanjeev said, “I’m delighted with this result. I’ve been
playing really well since last year and the results are gradually getting
better for me.”
Md Zamal Hossain Mollah (even-par-288) and Md Jakiruzzaman
Jakir (one-over-289) were the other two Bangladeshis in the top-10 as they
finished ninth and tied 10th respectively.
Bihar's Aman Raj finished tied 18 along with two others carding 4 over 292. On the last day he scored at par. His final tally was 74, 74, 72, 72.
PGTI release
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