Siddikur makes cut in Japan

Bangladesh's premier golfer Siddikur Rahman scraped by to make the cut at the Panasonic Open Japan yesterday. The 32-year-old, who had an overnight score of one-over-par (72), gained one stroke to finish the second day with a par score (142).

The cut was set at one-over-par (143).

Siddikur's round could have been a lot more fruitful, but he traded away his three birdies for two bogeys at the Chiba Country Club's Umesato Course. He was placed joint 46th in the USD 1.37 million tournament.

Meanwhile, overnight leader Jason Knutzon hit four birdies and two bogeys to extend his lead to two strokes with a nine-under-par (133).

Four golfers, including local talent Yujiro Ohiro, shared the second spot with seven-under-par (135). Ohiro started the day at 29th, but he hit seven birdies and just one bogey to make the leap.