NEW DELHI, India (Asian Tour News) — Justin Quiban got off to a hot start with a five-under-par 67 to trail Siddikur Rahman by two shots in The DGC Open at the Delhi Golf Club on Thursday.

Quiban started with 11 straight pars, then made three birdies in a row, followed by pars on 15 and 16, before two closing birdies.

“Front nine was kind of slow,” said the Filipino, who finished fifth here last year for his best result to date on the Asian Tour.

“But the back nine I was hitting it way closer, my putts started to go in and I had three straight birdies from 12. I got confident with my putting stroke.”

“Off the tee was really good, I just never got myself out of position, I always had a good look into the green and stayed aggressive the whole day. I had a good round on the final day last week in Thailand, and I just feel more confident this week.”

Miguel Tabuena carded a 68 to move into contention, but the other Filipinos struggled.

Angelo Que carded a 75 while Lloyd Jefferson Go limped home with a 77.

Rahman’s affinity for the course) was clearly evident once again when he took the first-round lead at the iconic golfing venue.

Bangladesh’s ace golfer, the winner of India’s national Open here in 2013 who also has 12 other top 10 finishes at DGC on the Asian Tour, fired an imperious seven-under-par 65.

Defending champion Nitithorn Thippong from Thailand, India’s Rashid Khan and Quiban finished the day in a tie for second after shooting 67s — in the sixth Asian Tour event of the season.

Last week Siddikur, aged 38, shared the third-round lead in the International Series Thailand after firing one of the finest rounds of his 18-year professional career, an eight-under-par 64. He slipped back on the final day finishing in a tie for 27th but he showed on Thursday that he is very much a player in form.

“Last week I played really good, and I am trying to maintain that confidence this week,” he said.

“It was a wonderful day today. I am hitting really, really, good, and putting really good. Especially happy it is a bogey free round.”

He chipped in twice for birdies, on eight and 17, and made seven birdies in total, two on the front, five on the back.