By IANS,
Bangalore : Mohammad Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh bagged his third title on the Aircel PGTI when he shot a one under 71 to win the Global Green Bangalore Open by one stroke at the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) course Saturday.
Siddikur totalled eight under 280 for the week. He has now climbed from 20th to seventh on the Aircel PGTI Order of Merit as a result of his victory. Ranjit Singh was second with a tournament total of seven under 281.
Siddikur Rahman (71, 69, 69, 71) warded off the challenge from Chandigarh’s Ranjit Singh and Bangalore-based Anirban Lahiri with a determined performance on the final day.
The 24-year-old began the day on a high as he birdied the first by converting a 15-feet putt. He seemed to be pulling away from Ranjit and Anirban when he made his second birdie of the day on the sixth with the help of a 20-feet putt.
Siddikur then came up with some excellent par saves on the 11th, 12th and 13th to maintain his lead on the back nine. On the 13th, his long shot from the bunker from 20 yards out landed just six inches short of the pin.
The professional from Dhaka hung on to his lead over the final stretch with pars on the 14th, 15th 16th and 17th. Siddikur closed with a bogey on the 18th but still managed to finish one stroke ahead of his nearest rival Ranjit.
“I’m very pleased with my performance this week as I played really well on all four days. I was consistent and did not let pressure build on myself even on the final day. I concentrated on my game in the final round and did not look at the leaderboard too often even though my nearest rivals threatened to catch up with me at one stage,” said Siddikur.
Ranjit (70, 71, 69, 71) made four birdies against three bogeys on the final day to finish one stroke behind Siddikur in second place.
Ranjit secured birdies on the third, eighth, ninth and 11th as a result of hitting it very close. His best shot came from 20 yards out on the 11th, where his ball came up one foot short of the hole. This was Ranjit’s best ever finish on the Aircel PGTI.
Anirban (72, 70, 70, 71) secured third place having totaled five under 283. Bangalore’s C Muniyappa was a further stroke behind in fourth place. Delhi’s Shamim Khan finished fifth at two under 286.