Siddikur five strokes off the pace

Ace golfer Siddikur Rahman stayed in joint-third position despite falling five shots behind the pace after a bizarre second-round performance in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters yesterday.

Most golfers struggled with the gusty conditions at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club and Siddikur was no exception as he could only manage a two-over-par (74) in the second round on Friday for an aggregate of one-under-par (143).

The 30-year-old golfer carded six birdies against six bogeys while hitting a double bogey in the seventh hole, where he had hit an eagle in the previous round. The two-time Asian Tour winner was, however, quite pleased with his day's work.

"I started off well, but it was really challenging out there. The winds were strong and it was hard to determine the wind direction but I'm happy with how I played given the tough conditions," Siddikur told Asiantour.com, after closing with a 17-yard chip-in birdie on the ninth.

India's Rashid Khan, despite hitting a double-bogey on the first hole, took the half-way lead at six-under-par (138), followed by overnight leader Danny Chia of Malaysia at five-under-par (139).