Seremban, July 10: Siddikur Rahman turned on the style to run away with the Negeri Sembilan Masters Invitational today after a stunning final round of seven-under 65.
The 26-year-old from Dhaka, who was making his third appearance at the annual championship, propelled himself to the title with an electrifying back nine of 31, highlighted by eagles on the 11th and 18th in erratic weather conditions at the Seremban International Golf Club.
A four-day total of 17-under-par 271 gave Siddikur his second win of 2011 and earned him a prize purse of US$26,320 in the US$165,000 (RM500,000) tournament which was part of the expanded ASEAN PGA Tour calendar this year.
Four strokes adrift in second was Malaysia’s Danny Chia (70) while compatriots Md Rashid Ismail (68) and Shaaban Hussin (70) were a further shot back. Overnight leader Airil Rizman Zahari stumbled down the leaderboard after a tough day with his game, carding three-over 74 to claim a share of fifth alongside Thais Atthaphon Pratummannee and colourful Udorn Duangdecha.
Veteran Filipino Antonio Lascuna, who was within a shout for his first victory on the regional tour at the start of the round, saw his title hopes go up in smoke after a disappointing 74.
Gettting stronger and stronger as the round progressed, Siddikur made the turn on 34 after mixing three birdies against his sole bogey on the fourth. Despite slight showers, he pulled away from the pack with an eagle on par-five 11th, where he hit a five wood to 30 feet and a birdie on the 14th before sealing a memorable display with another eagle on the par-five finishing hole.
“I am very excited and thank God for this victory. It was a great day for me and I played really well over the last four rounds. Seven-under-par 65 today is as good as it can get and I was very happy to be able to get two eagles on the back nine,” said Siddikur.
Consistent throughout the tournament with his pin-point driving and sharp iron play, Siddikur was delighted with his victory at his third attempt at the Masters. “I just kept focused and played my own game. I stuck to my game plan and it worked out pretty well in the end.
“I am very grateful to SIGC club captain and tournament director Dato Haji Mohd Yaacob Kassim for his invite over the last three years and I’m very excited to have finally lift this title,” he added.
Chia made five birdies and three bogeys to record his best finish in the tournament which was inaugurated in 2005.
“A mixture of feelings as I shot all four rounds under-par which is a positive but I could have eliminated a couple of errors today which costs me at the end. I was hitting the ball well and I’d probably like to have been closer to him (Siddikur) but he played a great round,” shared Chia, who will be skipping the PGM Johor Classic which starts tomorrow to travel to Jakarta for OneAsia’s Indonesian Open.
Abel Tam was named the best amateur after registering a total of three-under 285 after four under-par rounds of 71,72, 70 and 72. Four amateurs made the halfway cut in the seventh edition this year.
Leading final scores (Malaysian unless stated)
271 Siddikur Rahman (BAN) (69-68-69-65)
275 Danny Chia (66-71-68-70)
276 Md Rashid Ismail (70-66-72-68) , Shaaban Hussin (68-69-6970)
277 Udorn Duangdecha (THA) (72-69-69-67), Atthaphon Pratummannee (THA) (65-70-70-72), Airil Rizman Zahari (65-72-66-74)
279 Antonio Lascuna (PHI) (66-71-68-74)
280 Rory Hie (INA) (69-71-72-68), Scott Barr (AUS) (73-69-69-69)
281 Ben Leong (73-73-68-67)
