Siddikur Rahman overcame a double bogey to grab the clubhouse lead during the second round of the Hero Indian Open.
The Bangladeshi, who was the last winner of this event two years ago prior to it becoming co-sanctioned by The European Tour, had four birdies and a single bogey in his first 12 holes to race three shots clear, but drove into bushes down the fourth.
Despite a penalty drop, Siddikur was unable to find the green with his third shot and he eventually ran up a double-bogey six.
But the 30 year old – a two-time winner on the co-sanctioning Asian Tour – responded well with back-to-back birdies to finish his round.
An up-and-down from a greenside bunker at the long eighth was followed by an eight footer at the ninth to complete a three under par 68 and nine under halfway total at Delhi Golf Club.
“I was a little bit disappointed with my double bogey because I had a good number of birdies,” said the World Number 267.
“I really enjoy playing here and I want to keep the same rhythm in in the next two rounds. You will definitely have some pressure but I always try my best to avoid it.”
Out on the course another former winner at this venue, home favourite S S P Chawrasia, had emerged as Siddikur’s nearest challenger as a birdie at the first took him to seven under par.
Both Siddikur and Chawrasia had been part of a five-way tie for the first round lead, and two more of that quintet – Swede Joakim Lagergren and Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat – completed level par 71s to share third on six under.
Recent Maybank Malaysian Open winner Anirban Lahiri carded the round of the day with a 65 which contained only six pars as he moved into the top ten, while Prayad Marksaeng and Abhinav Lohan took the tally for aces on the 2015 Race to Dubai to a whopping 15.
Marksaeng made a hole-in-one with a six iron at the fifth, while Lohan’s exploits at the 17th were not enough to prevent him missing the cut.
Chawrasia, whose two European Tour titles have both come on home soil, took advantage of friendly bounces to birdie the tenth and 11th and join Rahman in the lead on nine under par.
The 36 year old looked the only player capable of getting into double figures, with fellow overnight leader Richard T Lee two over par for his round and four under overall.
