30/07/2010 10:15 PM
Australian Adam Groom is just two shots off the pace at the halfway point of the Brunei Open.
Groom shot a three under-par 68 on the second day to close within two shots of Bangladeshi leader Siddikur.
Groom is tied in second with day one leader Thammanoon Srirot of Thailand after he fired a round of 71.
The Australian started on the back nine of the course hitting successive bogeys but three birdies on the second half of his round put him in a strong position.
"My confidence was down after bogeys on the 17th and 18th holes. I tried to pull my game up after that but was hitting it all over the place," Groom said.
"I wouldn't have kept my score if it wasn't for my putting."
Groom lost his Asian Tour card last season but is in strong contention to claim the tournament with two days remaining in the US$300,000 (AUD$333,000) Asian tour tournament.
Tournament leader Siddikur is hoping to be the first Bangladeshi winner on the Asian Tour and was delighted with his performance.
"I’m very happy and excited with my total score as this is the first time I have been 11-under-par after the second round," Siddukur said.
He also claimed that he was 'struggling' with his putting.
Two Aussies are four shots of the pace with Rohan Blizard and Adam Blyth having posted rounds of 68 whilst compatriot Kunal Bhasin is a shot further adrift.
Leading Round Two Scores
131 - Siddikur (BAN) 64-67
133 - Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 62-71, Adam Groom (AUS) 65-68
134 - Jbe Kruger (RSA) 66-68, Ben Leong (MAS) 70-64, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 70-64
135 - Rohan Blizard (AUS) 67-68, Adam Blyth (AUS) 67-68
136 - Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 66-70, Kunal Bhasin (AUS) 67-69, Simon Griffiths (ENG) 68-68, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 68-68, Nick Redfern (ENG) 70-66, Zhang Lian-Wei (CHN) 71-65
137 - Guido Van Der Valk (NED) 68-69, Darren Beck (AUS) 68-69, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 69-68, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 70-67, Ahmad Bateman (CAN) 72-65
138 - Gurki Shergill (IND) 66-72