Mauritius, December 5: India’s Abhijit Chadha stayed three shots off the pace on a crowded leaderboard where the first round lead of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open was shared by five players on Thursday.

Scotland’s Grant Forrest, South Africa’s Brandon Stone, Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard along with Frenchmen Benjamin Hebert and Romain Langasque shared the opening day’s honours when they returned with identical six-under-par 66s.

Chadha, who is battling to secure his Asian Tour card with three events left on his schedule, put up a gallant fight by mixing his card with four birdies and one bogey for a 69 and a share of 22nd place at the Heritage Golf Club, which is hosting the tournament for the third time.

The Indian is coming into the week on the back of an encouraging result on his domestic circuit last week and is hopeful he can translate his good form into success on the Indian Ocean island this week.

South Africa’s Keith Horne, who is still searching for his Asian Tour breakthrough, returned with a 67 to stay within a shot back of the leaders in tied-sixth place.

Despite the threat of his younger rivals, the 48-year-old knows he still has every chance to match up to them.

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open was inaugurated in 2015 and was the first tournament to be tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Sunshine Tour and European Tour.

Did you know?

• Abhijit Chadha earned his Asian Tour card this season by finishing tied-35th at Qualifying School last December, the second time he has finished inside the top-40 since 2015. He is currently in 107^th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
• His best result this season came at the Classic Golf and Country Club International Championship in September where he finished tied-fifth.  
• He enjoyed a tied-third finish at the Kensville Open presented by Tata Steel PGTI last week.
• Chadha was one of India’s top amateurs in 2010 and 2011, and a member of the Indian team that won the silver medal at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
• He finished a career-high third in the Professional Golf Tour of India’s (PGTI) 2015 Ranking, having secured a win at the BILT Open along with three other top-10 finishes, including two top-three results in the season. 
• At 18, Rasmus Hojgaard is a Qualifying School graduate from the European Tour. He made his first European Tour cut at last week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship where he finished tied-49^th.
• In 2018, Hojgaard and his identical twin brother Nicolai combined with John Axelsen to win the Eisenhower Trophy for Denmark and played together in the Junior Ryder Cup.
• Benjamin Hebert has six wins on the European Challenge Tour but is still seeking a maiden victory on the European Tour having been defeated in the final of the 2018 Belgian Knockout and lost out in three play-offs in 2019.
• Keith Horne has two top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour this season. He finished tied-10^th at the Hero Indian Open and tied-ninth at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters
• Horne’s last professional victory was in 2017 when he won the Vodacom Origins on the Sunshine Tour.

Ends.

Benjamin Hebert (Fra) First round 66 (-6)
It was a good day. The greens were very firm during the practice round and they were much softer this morning, so it was easier. During the practice round it was very hard to reach pin high because the bounce was huge on the green. It was a little bit windy on the last nine, a little bit tougher, but I did well so I am very happy. There was definitely less wind today, especially on the front nine. The course is in great condition anyway so, if you find a good way to manage the wind it is very scoreable. It feels a little bit like vacation, I have a friend on the bag, so we’re just trying to enjoy the tournament. Everything is so nice, the hotel is pure, the area is just amazing. We just try to enjoy it, and maybe that’s the way to have a good week, we’ll see.

Rasmus Hojgaard (Den) First round 66 (-6)
It was great, I played well and gave myself a lot of chances. Conditions are very good. It’s a course where if you are playing well you can see a lot of chances. I managed to take them today. I had a full season on the Challenge Tour, which gave me a lot of confidence in what I am doing. I just need to believe in myself. It’s paying off right now and hopefully it will pay off in the long run as well.

Romain Langasque (Fra) First rond 66 (-6)
It was pretty solid all day. It was the kind of round I was looking for to start the tournament, so I’m pretty happy. I love this place, I feel great, but loving the place and playing well is not the same thing. I played well here two years ago and I think this is a course that fits my game really well. I’ll just stay focused on doing my own thing and it worked well today. I’m going to rest tonight as I’m playing really early tomorrow and then just focus on playing the same game. I think the wind will be a little bit less tomorrow morning so maybe I will take on the course a little bit better, but I will just focus on doing good things and enjoy my time here.

Grant Forrest (SCO) First round 66 (-6)
I made a long putt on my first hole – probably 45, 50 foot, so that’s always a good way to start the round. Couple of nice birdies, a bogey on the 13th (his fourth) and chipped in for eagle on the 14th (his fifth). A bit of an up and down start, but it’s god to get out of the blocks quickly.
The par fives are key, they are all reachable. The second is the one that is playing the longest into the wind, but you can still reach in two. You get the tee shots away there and there are really good chances so you need to make the most of them. The game is getting there. We’ve done a lot of work over the past few months and it’s been a bit of a struggle on the golf course but we’re starting to see signs now. I had a great start to the tournament last week as well. It’s been encouraging the last little while and things are falling into place for the coming season.

Keith Horne (Rsa) First round 67 (-5)
So far so good. I made a bogey on the last but it was a good day. I was very happy with the way I played today. I made a lot of good putts. I just kept it in play, hit it solidly, did everything right and made some putts. There are quite a few birdie holes out if you keep it in play and you’re hitting a few short irons. All of the par-fives are reachable in two, so yes there are birdies out there. Very seldom I play in a three-ball where a guy I’m playing with is older than how long I’ve been on Tour for, so I pretty much get used to it now. I think the guys are professional and the younger guys are a lot more fearless. They just go out there – even 18-year olds go out there and shoot the scores. They’re just fearless and competitive from a very early age, which I think is awesome and it’s fun to watch. As you get older and more experienced, I don’t think you can hit it so far. Fearlessness goes away and you need to start boxing a little bit more cleverly. I think at the end of the day you start to learn that if you manage your score a lot more over the long run, you become a lot more consistent that way. If you stay fearless you’re going to have a couple of really good rounds but you’re also going to have a couple of large numbers, so if you can find a good balance, that’s when you start to produce consistent results.

Abhijit Chadha (Ind) First round 69 (-3)
Today was good. It was not that windy in the morning so I took advantage of those conditions. I started off well and I played really well today. It’s a good start, no doubt about it. I’ve got to keep hitting as many fairways as I can. The course is not too long for me and I just got to stick to my plan of being good off the tee. My form is good. I played an event back home last week and I finished third. The conditions were quite tough then and so I feel good about my game coming into this week. I need to have a strong finish to keep my card so I’m doing all I can to do well this week.

Mauritius, December 4: India’s Shubhankar Sharma is hoping to end his season on a high note as he tees off in his last event of the year at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open which starts on Thursday.

Just 12 months ago, Sharma had the world at his feet when he became the fifth Indian to win the prestigious Asian Tour Order of Merit. But since then, the 23-year-old has found success hard to come by as he relinquishes his merit crown to Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond.

By his own admission, Sharma conceded it has been a lackluster season with only his recent results in Italy and Turkey helping to bring back some cheers.

A good result at the Heritage Golf Club where he finished tied-27^th in his AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open debut in 2017 would restore that much needed confidence as he closes his season on the Indian Ocean island.

Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman is also determined to end the year with a flourish. With a proud record at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open where he finished second in 2016, Siddikur is hopeful of winning again for the first time since his last victory on the Asian Tour in 2013.

Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena, who finished tied-fifth at the Heritage Golf Club in 2017, is confident he can raise to the occasion again as he goes in search for his third win on the Asian Tour this week.

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open was inaugurated in 2015 and was the first tournament to be tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Sunshine Tour and European Tour.

Did you know?

• Sharma started his 2019 season with a tied-second finish at the PGTI Players Championship on his domestic circuit and was not only until October and November when he finished tied-seven in Italy and Turkey respectively.
• 2018 was a standout year for Sharma who captured his second Asian Tour title at the Maybank Championship before going on to become the youngest Indian to play in all four Major Championships.
• Apart from his Asian Tour Order of Merit win, the Indian was also conferred the prestigious Arjuna Award back home and named as the European Tour Rookie of the Year.
• Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman led by one shot at the start of the final day in 2016 but a double-bogey on 16 and a bogey on 17 saw him sign for a disappointing 74 to take second place behind Korea’s Jeunghun Wang then.
• Siddikur has two top-10 finishes in Chinese Taipei and India this year. His last win on the Asian Tour came in 2013 when he won the Hero Indian Open.
• Siddikur worked as a ball boy at Kurmitola Golf Club in Bangladesh to support his studies. He made his first club with a broken seven iron head stuck on a metal rod.
• Miguel Tabuena went into the final round of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open just one shot back of the leaders in 2017.
• Playing through a wrist injury, Tabuena eventually carded a 71 on the final day to claim a share of fifth place.
• The Filipino came close to lifting his third Asian Tour title at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in October but settled for a share of second place after a final round 72.

Ends.

Shubhankar Sharma (Ind)
It has been great knowing that I was Asia’s number one player in 2018 and it will be something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I started my career on the Asian Tour so winning the Order of Merit was something special and it was definitely a milestone for me. I’m really happy for Jazz as I would know that winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit will open many doors. There’ll be many things to look forward to. I always enjoy coming back to play on the Asian Tour as I get to see all my friends and competing against them. It’s pretty lonely out there in Europe and it’s always nice to have friends and family around. That just makes it more enjoyable. There have been many ups and downs for me this year. It wasn’t a great start and I didn’t play too well in the middle of the season too. But I managed to find my form towards the end and played well after that. It has been a mixed season to be honest but that’s how it is and that’s golf. Mauritius is a beautiful place and I hope to end my last event for the year with a good result.

Siddikur Rahman (Ban)
It’s always nice to come back to Mauritius. I’ve played well in this tournament before and they certainly help provide those feel-good memories. I finished second in 2016 and although I didn’t win, it was a huge learning curve for me. I wouldn’t say I was disappointed but that result just showed me what I could have done better and how to compose myself better mentally. If another chance like that comes along my way again, I’ll definitely grab it. I’m hungry and want to win again soon. I’m so excited about my chances for this week. I have been in contention on a few occasions this year and I know that my next win will come soon again. It’s going to be windy but I don’t mind because it’s going to be the same for everyone. If I can play my own game, I think nobody can stop me.

Miguel Tabuena (Phi)
I know this course pretty well and this is the third time I’m playing here. I love coming to Mauritius as the weather’s almost similar to Manila. With windy conditions like this, you have to learn to control the trajectory of your shots and I think I’m pretty good at doing that. This season has been okay considering I missed a few events at the start of the year because of my injuries. I finished fifth in Sarawak and came close in Taipei recently but that’s never good enough for me. I always want to win and I believe it’s coming soon. With the way I’m playing now, I believe it’s possible.

Ends.

Sentosa, Singapore, December 3: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond has been crowned the 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion after his lead on the Habitat for Humanity Standings became unassailable.

With Scott Hend opting not to tee up at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open this week, the 23-year-old Thai has secured his prime position atop the money list as he cannot be caught by his closest challenger.

Two wins at the SMBC Singapore Open and Kolon Korea Open along with seven other top-10s on the Asian Tour have earned the prodigious talent the divine right to become the fourth Thai after Thongchai Jaidee (2001, 2004, 2009), Thaworn Wiratchant (2005, 2012) and Kiradech Aphibarnrat (2013) to be crowned Asia’s number one.

“I’m really honoured to join the likes of Thongchai, Thaworn and Kiradech as the next player from Thailand to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit. It’s an exclusive group of champions which I’m so proud to be in.

“While it’s not a perfect season this year as there are times which I thought I could play even better, overall, it has been a very good one where I took advantage of my opportunities and made the best of them,” said Jazz, who has risen to a career- high of 52^nd on the Official World Golf Rankings this year.

Jazz has been one of the revelations this season with wins at the Singapore Open in January, where he beat a field which included Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey, and Korea Open in June.

“The win in Singapore was certainly the highlight of the year for me because I won early in the season and that victory broke me into the world’s top 100 then. It opened doors for me and I took advantage of them,” said Jazz, who also won the second edition of the Panasonic Swing series and enjoyed a standout season in Japan with six top-10 finishes in the Land of the rising sun.

In May, Jazz came to global prominence at the PGA Championship where he entered the final round in joint second place before closing with a 77 to settle for tied-14 finish, which was the best-ever result achieved by a Thai player at the PGA Championship.

“Playing in the PGA Championship was not only an unique experience but also a memorable one.

“Playing in front of the large crowds and against the best players in the world is something I’ll never forget,” said Jazz, who went on to make his second consecutive appearance at The 148^th Open in July.

Jazz first played his way into the history books of the Asian Tour in 2010 when he became the youngest ever player to make the halfway cut at the 2010 Asian Tour International in Bangkok at the age of 14 years and 71 days.

But his path towards greatness was not littered without road bumps, struggles and setbacks.

He lost his Asian Tour card for the first time in his career in 2016 but bounced back quickly the following year with his Asian Tour breakthrough victory at the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open.

“Those experiences moulded me into a better player. I spent two weeks in the monastery where I found peace and slowly played my way back. That breakthrough in Bangladesh brought back the self-belief that I can actually play good golf and win tournaments,” said Jazz.

Jazz then saw his fortune soared with another win on home soil at the Queen’s Cup in 2018 followed by another two victories at the National Opens of Singapore and Korea this year.

The benchmark for the Thai has now been raised event higher as he sets out to sing another winning tune in 2020.

“I just want to get even better and not rest on my laurels. I want to compete in more Majors and make big moves on the world rankings,” said Jazz.

Ends.

Mauritius, December 3: The fifth edition of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will welcome back some of the best players from the Asian Tour as they get back into action after a week’s break.

Set to tee off at the Heritage Golf Club on Thursday, the field at the €1 million event will include multiple Asian Tour champions with the likes of South Africa’s Justin Harding, American John Catlin and India’s Shubhankar Sharma, who won the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2018 expected to battle for top honours on the Indian Ocean island.

Buoyed by his latest success where he lifted his fourth Asian Tour title in Thailand last month, Catlin believes his global experience, where he has played in Europe for most part of this season, will provide him with that added edge as he seeks to establish himself as another genuine contender this week.

“Playing against some of the best players in the world gave me the confidence I needed to. I think I have learnt to play smarter over the last one year or so. I know when I can take a shot on and when not. I think that just comes from experience,” said Catlin.

Harding, a two-time Asian Tour winner, is also seeking to end his year on a high note having started the year promisingly with a win in Qatar followed by a creditable tied-12 finish at The Masters Tournament before enduring an erratic show of form. 

“I’m looking forward to having another good week and try to finish the year with a bang. It has been a strange year to be honest. I had a good run of form and then it kind of took a slight dip in the middle. I felt like I was always playing my way into the next week and there was no real opportunity to take a break. 

“It has been a learning curve. I didn’t really think I was going to continue that kind of form and posting those kind of results on a consistent basis. But I’m hoping I’m now out of my little rut and see if I can have some good finishes to round off the year,” said Harding.

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open was inaugurated in 2015 and was the first tournament to be tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Sunshine Tour and European Tour.

Two of the past AfrAsia Mauritius Open champions were from the Asian Tour with Korea’s Jeunghun Wang winning the 2016 edition while defending champion Kurt Kitayama of the United States underlined his growing credentials by winning the event in his rookie season last year.

Ends.