Veteran Sasidaran in the mix after carding a superb 68

PETALING JAYA: Veteran M. Sasidaran is just one shot off the lead after the first round of the RM225,000 PGM MIDF Championship in Negri Sembilan.

The 41-year-old, who has never won an Asian Development Tour (ADT) title, shot a 68 to leave him within striking distance of leading trio – Donlaphatchai Niyomchon and Itthipat Buranatanyarat of Thailand and American Tarik Can – at the Kotaseriemas Golf and Country Club yesterday.

Starting on the back nine, Sasidaran sandwiched a bogey in between two birdies in the threehole stretch from the 12th before picking up three more shots on the third, fourth and seventh.

“I played well and was striking it well. I only missed four fairways today and I was hitting it close on a lot of holes,” said Sasidaran, who last tasted success at the PGM Perlis Closed Championship in 2016.

“I’m going to stick to my game plan of hitting fairways and greens tomorrow.”

Sasidaran will be hoping to use the fine start to turn his dismal season around on the ADT.

He only made four cuts out of 12 appearances with his best finish — a tied 17th — was achieved at the PGM Labuan Championship in August.

Amir Nazrin Jailani was the second best-placed local golfer in the 109-man field tournament.

He signed for a 69 to tie for seventh placing.