Dhaka, May 11: England’s Jack Harrison put himself in prime position to win in his first start as an Asian Tour rookie when he posted a four-under-par 67 to lead by one shot following the penultimate round of the AB Bank Bangladesh Open on Friday.

The 27-year-old Harrison, who came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School earlier in January, fired five birdies in his closing six holes to move atop the leaderboard with a 11-under-par 202 total at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

Jack Harrison of England

Sri Lankan Mithun Perera overcame an opening bogey with eight birdies but slipped back with two other bogeys in his closing four holes to settle for a 66 in second place at the US$300,000 event, which is celebrating its fourth consecutive edition on the Asian Tour this week.

Qualifying School graduate Ben Campbell of New Zealand, who is making his debut appearance at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open, carded a 68, thanks to three closing birdies. He trails by two shots in third place on 204.

Overnight co-leader Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden battled to a 71 to sit a further shot back in fourth place alongside Suttijet Kooratanapisan (70) of Thailand and India’s M Dharma (68).

Local hope Zamal Hossain Mollah, who held a share of the halfway lead, slipped four shots off the pace to tied-seventh place with Divyanshu Bajaj of India (70) on matching 206s. He remains the highest-ranked local player following the third round of the AB Bank Bangladesh Open.

Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka

Did you know?

• Jack Harrison secured his Asian Tour card for the 2018 season after finishing tied-15th at the Asian Tour Qualifying School, which was played over five rounds (90 holes) across two courses in Thailand earlier in January. It was his second attempt at the Qualifying School since 2013.
• Harrison needed only 25 putts around the greens for his commendable round of 67 today.
• Harrison is in the running to become the fastest rookie to win on the Asian Tour. Kane Webber and Todd Sinnott won their maiden Asian Tour titles in their second starts on Tour in 2006 and 2017 respectively.
• Harrison, who turned professional in 2011, also plays on the Sunshine Tour, where he enjoyed a tied-sixth place finish at the Cape Town Open in February.
• Mithun Perera turned professional in 2011. He is the son to Nandasena, a famous name on the old Asian circuit during the 1980s and 1990s.
• The 31-year-old Perera ended a two-year title drought when he claimed his sixth title on the Professional Golf Tour of India earlier in March.
• Perera is chasing to become the first ever Sri Lankan to win on the Asian Tour.
• Like Harrison, Ben Campbell also came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School earlier in January to earn his card for the 2018 season. It was his first time making the mark in four attempts since 2011.
• The 26-year-old Campbell is making his third start on the Asian Tour this season but playing in his first attempt at the Bangladesh Open this week.
• M Dharma is a two-time winner on his domestic circuit. The 31-year-old, who hails from Bengaluru, turned professional in 2005.
• Dharma is making his third appearance at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open this week. He enjoyed a tied-seventh place finish when he played the ADT season-opener, also at the Kurmitola Golf Club, in January.

Players’ quotes:

Jack Harrison (Eng) – Third round 67 (-4), Total 202 (-11)

I had a good finish with five birdies in my last six holes but it wasn’t the most comfortable round out there. It was a real grind especially for the first 12 holes today. I kept the ball in play off the tee very well. I knew if I can keep doing that, I will have a few chances coming in but unfortunately, only a few putts dropped.

This is my first start on the Asian Tour since coming through the Qualifying School earlier this season. I am loving the good vibes out here, especially so when I am playing well. I am loving Dhaka so far. I love the course here, the people and everything else. It’s been fantastic. I am enjoying it.

I am just going to stick to the same game plan tomorrow and play my best, take advantage of my strength which is off the tees this week and hopefully win. I guess it’s all about decision making and not being too greedy around the course here. It can really bite you. You got to keep it in play and don’t try to go for the pins because if you miss, you won’t have a chance really.

Jack Harrison of England

Mithun Perera (Slk) – Third round 66 (-5), Total 203 (-10)

I didn’t finish well, dropped two shots on my last four holes but overall, I had a great round. I made eight birdies after the bogey on first. I played decent golf but missed a couple of putts today. I was happy to put myself in contention for tomorrow.

I was able to hit it close today. My iron shots were very good. My birdies were from about two to three feet. I three-putted the first hole for bogey and sank a 10-footer on the second for birdie to make it back. That helped me gained some momentum heading into the round.

It was tough to score today, given the windy conditions. I am happy with where I stand right now. There’s still one more day to go. I will try and beat the golf course tomorrow. I tell myself I am playing against myself and against the golf course, not the players.

The aim is to shoot an under-par round tomorrow. We will see how it goes.

Ben Campbell of New Zealand

Ben Campbell (Nzl) – Third round 68 (-3), Total 204 (-9)

I hit the ball really well today. On the front nine, I just couldn’t hole any putts but I stuck in there and happy with the way I finished the round. I knew I was playing well but I was even par and I felt like I should be four or five-under. I felt like I have left a few out there but it’s a nice way to finish and there’s always tomorrow.

I hit a good five-iron into the 16th hole and made a 15-footer for birdie. I made another birdie from four-feet on 17th and hit a nice iron-shot to about five -feet for birdie on 18th. It was just to give myself a chance to win if I get a good round tomorrow.

The week’s been good so far. It’s been tough with the rain delays but the course is in great shape. Took a bit of time to get used to the greens after all the rain but overall, it’s good. Hopefully tomorrow I can continue to do the same things and hole a few more putts.

M Dharma (Ind) – Third round 68 (-3), Total 205 (-8)

I started with a bogey on the first but bounced back immediately with a birdie on second. I made a few good birdies to turn in 32 but my back nine was really shaky. I am still hitting the ball good today, just made a few bad shots on my back nine.

It was windy out there and not easy to play at all. I made a long putt from about 20 feet for birdie on seventh. That was my highlight today. I managed to hit it close for the other birdies. I am very happy with how I have played so far.

I don’t want to have any expectations for the final round tomorrow. I just want to play my game. If I tell myself I have to shoot a certain number, I will be stressed. I just want to play my best and whatever happens, happens.

M Dharma of India

Scores after round 3 of the AB Bank Bangladesh Open 2018 being played at the par 71, 6642 Yards Kurmitola Golf Club course (am – denotes amateur):

202 – Jack HARRISON (ENG) 66-69-67.

203 – Mithun PERERA (LKA) 70-67-66.

204 – Ben CAMPBELL (NZL) 70-66-68.

205 – M DHARMA (IND) 66-71-68, Suttijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA) 71-64-70, Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE) 68-66-71.

206 – Divyanshu BAJAJ (IND) 67-69-70, Zamal Hossain MOLLAH (BAN) 69-65-72.

207 – Honey BAISOYA (IND) 71-67-69.

208 – Settee PRAKONGVECH (THA) 70-69-69, Rashid KHAN (IND) 71-67-70, Berry HENSON (USA) 69-68-71.

209 – Lionel WEBER (FRA) 70-68-71, Thammanoon SRIROJ (THA) 70-68-71, John CATLIN (USA) 67-70-72, Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 71-66-72.

210 – Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 68-71-71, Sydney CHUNG (USA) 70-69-71.

211 – Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) 72-69-70, Badal HOSSAIN (BAN) 71-67-73, Paul HARRIS (USA) 70-66-75.

212 – Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 69-72-71, Amir NAZRIN (MAS) 67-73-72, Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 71-72-69, Kazuki HIGA (JPN) 68-71-73, Rory HIE (INA) 69-69-74, Anura ROHANA (LKA) 69-69-74.

Ends.

About Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

Dhaka, May 10: Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-lun returned to complete 10 holes on Thursday morning and signed for a solid 65 to grab a share of the opening round lead with Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open.

Wang Wei-lun of Chinese Taipei

Wang, who is making his debut appearance in Bangladesh this week, marked his card with seven birdies against a bogey to share the early honours with Rattanon, who completed his round on Wednesday, at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

The duo holds a one-shot lead over M Dharma of India, Jack Harrison of England and Thailand’s Nirun Sae-ueng, who shared third place, at the US$300,000 event, which is celebrating its fourth consecutive edition on the Asian Tour this week.

Wang, 24, secured his playing rights on the Asian Tour for the 2018 season after finishing in fourth place on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit last year. He is the only player representing Chinese Taipei in the 144-man field.

Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand 

Rattanon, a one-time winner on the Asian Tour, is chasing for glory again in the event where he came in tied-fourth last year. The 22-year-old Thai enjoyed a promising start to his campaign after taking advantage of a hot putter which saw him amass only 23 putts in his round of 65.

The opening round of the AB Bank Bangladesh Open was disrupted by a four-hour rain delay on Wednesday, resulting in a total of 72 players returning to complete their rounds on Thursday morning. The second round is in progress.

Did you know?

• Wang Wei-lun claimed his breakthrough on the ADT when he won the Charming Yeangder ADT on home soil last year. He also topped the money list on his domestic circuit in 2017.
• Wang ended the 2017 season in fourth place on the ADT Order of Merit, thereby earning his Asian Tour card for 2018.
• Rattanon Wannasrichan claimed a wire-to-wire victory at the Thailand Open for his first Asian Tour title 12 months ago. He is also a one-time winner on the ADT in 2015.
• Rattanon sits in a current 20th position on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, thanks to two top-five finishes in Myanmar and Japan.
• Rattanon hit six fairways and missed six greens in regulation but needed only 23 putts around the greens to cap a solid round of 65. His highlight of the day came on the par-five 14th hole where he chipped it in from 20 yards to save par.
• Rattanon enjoyed a tied-fourth place finish at the Bangladesh Open last year.
• M Dharma is a two-time winner on his domestic circuit. The 31-year-old, who hails from Bengaluru, turned professional in 2005.
• Dharma is making his third appearance at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open this week. He enjoyed a tied-seventh place finish when he played the ADT season-opener, also at the Kurmitola Golf Club, in January.
• Jack Harrison came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School earlier in January. It was his second attempt since 2013. The 27-year-old, who turned professional in 2011, finished tied-15th in the 90-hole tournament to secure his Asian Tour card for the 2018 season.
• John Catlin needed only 23 putts around the greens today. He missed only two fairways in his commendable round of 67.
• Catlin is a proud graduate of the ADT. He ended the 2017 season in third place on the final Order of Merit and secured his playing rights on the Asian Tour for the 2018 season. He is a two-time winner on the secondary circuit.
• Catlin has notched four top-10 finishes in five starts on the ADT this season, including a tied-eighth place finish at the Kurmitola Golf Club two weeks ago. He sits in second place on the latest ADT Order of Merit.
• Catlin secured his first ever top-10 result on the Asian Tour after finishing in eighth place on his own at The 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship in Korea last week.

Wang Wei-lun of Chinese Taipei

Players’ quotes:

Wang Wei-lun (Tpe) – First round 65 (-6)

I came back to complete 10 holes today. My iron-play was really solid. I putted well too. My birdies were mostly from within 15 feet. It’s good to be in the lead, especially when it’s my first time here in Bangladesh but I’m not having much emotions about it yet. I just want to remain consistent and keep doing what I have been doing.

I got a late tee time yesterday and I only began my round after the rain suspension. I guess I had an advantage there. The greens were pretty hard when I played the practice rounds but it got softer after the rain.

I thought this golf course is pretty similar to the ones back home n Chinese Taipei. The greens are similar. I felt really comfortable out there. It’s going to be a long day today. I’m heading out to prepare for my second round now and we will see how it goes.

Tee shots are very important on this course. You need a little bit of luck on the greens as well. It’s not easy to read the lines. It’s been a good week in Bangladesh so far. I am pretty ok with the food here so it’s all good.

Rattanon Wannasrichan (Tha) – First round 65 (-6)

My game was really good today. I made a great par save on the par-five 14th hole. That was the highlight of the day for me. I hit my driver out of bounds and missed the green with my fourth shot but I managed to chip it in from about 20 yards to save par. It was amazing.

I had a good start to the round. I birdied my two holes from the 10th and that got my game going heading into the round. I like this golf course because it feels like the golf course where I used to practise when I first started playing golf back home in Thailand. The conditions and the grass are similar.

I had a good result here last year so I am feeling very confident coming back here. You need to hit it good off the tees to play well here. Putting is important too. I putted really well today which helped a lot.

M Dharma of India

M Dharma (Ind) – First round 66 (-5)

I drove the ball really well today. I missed only three fairways and hit 14 greens today. I hit the ball really good and was able to hit it close to the pins as well. I three-putted on one hole but other than that, it was a great round.

On the second hole, I made a 25-footer for birdie. That kind of kick-started my round today. I birdied again from four-feet on the fifth hole and then sank another seven-footer for birdie on seventh. On the eighth, I made a 14-footer.

I played the two ADT events here earlier and I like this golf course. I finished well in the first ADT event here in January and I felt really confident coming back here this week. This is a ‘placement’ golf course. You need to be accurate off the tees.

If you miss the fairways, it’s going to be very tough to make pars. I am really pleased with the way I played today. I hope I can continue to do the same for the next three rounds.

Jack Harrison (Eng) – First round 66 (-5)

I played pretty steady from the start. I was three-under through four holes. I felt pretty good after that. Off the tee is key to keep the ball in play on this course. I just hit fairways and greens out there and made putts. If it stays like this for the rest of the week, I will be pretty happy.

It’s a testing golf course. You got to hit the fairways. You can’t play the course if you are not hitting it well off the tee. I think that’s the key. A lot of holes can be pretty tricky. A lot of water that you can’t really see off the tee.

I am just trying to win this week. I got through the Qualifying School and I just want to make the most out of every start I get this year. A friend of mine, Chris Cannon, who played here a few years back, kind of guided me through the course a little bit before I came here.

I am loving it here so far. I got here on Saturday, nice and early just so I can adjust to the time difference from back home. I have seen quite a bit of the place so far and it’s nice.

John Catlin of the United States

John Catlin (Usa) – First round 67 (-4)

It was a really good round. I like this course. I played here for the ADT event two weeks ago and I had a good finish. It’s just good to get some of those positive vibes out there today. Obviously, I played well last week which got my confidence going for this week.

I just went out there and trusted my game. I hit a lot of high quality shots. It was pretty windy out there so it was good to be able to hit the ball solid. I made about two long putts but other than that, most of them were pretty close. I made a birdie from 35-feet on the par-five seventh.

It was kind of low-stress out there which makes it a lot easier. It’s a narrow course so tee shots are key. My ball striking was much better today. It was a bit off when I played in Korea last week.

I didn’t have the chance to do anything about it since after last week so it felt good to be able to hit it a lot better today. Wedge-play could have been a little tighter today as well. It’s something I am working on. I will just keep doing the same tomorrow. Nothing changes.

Ends.

About Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

Dhaka, May 10: Homegrown talent Zamal Hossain Mollah kept up the local cheers when he signed for a commendable six-under-par 65 to share the halfway clubhouse lead with Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden at the weather-disrupted AB Bank Bangladesh Open on Thursday.

Starting the day four shots off the pace, Zamal fired eight birdies against a double-bogey under windy conditions to move atop the leaderboard with Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit leader Kokocinski, who returned with a 66, at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

Zamal Hossain Mollah of Bangladesh

The leading duo holds a one-shot advantage on matching eight-under-par 134s while Thailand’s Suttijet Kooratanapisan marked the low round of the week when he carded a flawless 64 to sit in second place at the US$300,000 event.

Asian Tour Qualifying School graduate Ben Campbell of New Zealand, American Paul Harris and Divyanshu of India shared fifth place on 136s following respective rounds of 66, 66 and 69 in the AB Bank Bangladesh Open, which is celebrating its fourth consecutive edition on the Asian Tour this week.

Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden

Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-lun, who returned to grab a share of the opening round lead on Thursday morning, slipped five shots off the pace following a battling second round 74.

Play was suspended at 10.27am local time due to thunderstorm before resuming two and a half hours later. It was later called off for the day at 6.13pm due to fading light.

A total of 72 players will resume their second rounds at 6.20am on Friday with the third and penultimate round slated to start not earlier than 10.15am.

Did you know?

• Zamal Hossain Mollah is playing on his home course at the Kurmitola Golf Club this week. He enjoyed a tied-seventh place finish in January and came in runner-up two weeks ago when he played on the same course for the two Asian Development Tour (ADT) events.
• The 33-year-old Zamal secured his best result in his National Open when he finished tied-seventh in 2016. He missed the cut in 2015 and came in tied-26th last year.
• Zamal navigated his way around the greens in only 23 putts.
• After missing the mark at the Asian Tour Qualifying School earlier in January, Malcolm Kokocinski returned to ply his trade on the ADT and he has enjoyed a superb season so far.
• The 26-year-old Swede leads the current ADT Order of Merit with a season’s haul of US$25,026, thanks to five top-10s in six starts this season.
• Kokocinski enjoyed top-three results when he played at the Kurmitola Golf Club for the two ADT events earlier this season.
• Kokocinski missed the cut in his first attempt at the Bangladesh Open in 2015. He finished tied-14th in 2016 and did not play in the last edition.
• Suttijet Kooratanapisan holds the record of being the first player to shoot a 59 on the ADT and the Asian Tour. He achieved the feat in the final round of the 2017 Singha Phuket Open one year ago where he finished third.
• Suttijet came close to winning his first Asian Tour title at the 2016 Bangladesh Open. He settled for second place after finishing two shots back of countryman and winner Thitiphun Chuayprakong. It was his best result on the Asian Tour since turning professional in 2010.
• The 30-year-old Thai is also a one-time winner on the ADT. He is playing in his first start of the season on the Asian Tour this week. Suttijet has stayed away from competitive golf for two months to recover from a wrist injury earlier this season.
• Divyanshu Bajaj, 28, is playing in his first attempt at the Bangladesh Open this week. He came in tied-eighth when he played the ADT event on the same course at the Kurmitola Golf Club two weeks ago. Bajaj turned professional in 2010.

Zamal Hossain Mollah of Bangladesh

Players’ quotes:

Zamal Hossain Mollah (Ban) – Second round 65 (-6), Total 134 (-8)

I hit the ball really good today. My putting was good too. I made only one mistake on the second hole for double-bogey. I hit my tee shot to the left and hit my second shot with a seven-iron into the rough. Sent my third shot into the bunker from there, chipped out to greenside and then two-putted there.

After that, I calmed myself down and told myself that this is golf, anything can happen. I tried to forget about what happened and was able to restart on the next hole. I managed to bounce back with three birdies on the way home. Left a few birdies out there but it’s alright.

This is my home course and I am very familiar with it. It always feels good to be playing here. I finished well when I played the two ADT events here earlier this season. Tee shots are key to play well on this course. Putting has to be consistent too.

It feels good to be in a share of the lead. I have had some good results in the Bangladesh Open before. It is my National Open so I will try and do my best for the next two days. Hopefully I can continue to play like how I did today.

Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden

Malcolm Kokocinski (Swe) – Second round 66 (-5), Total 134 (-8)

It was a great out there today. I played 25 holes and the only bogey I made was on the par-four third, which was the first hole I played when I came back to complete my first round this morning.

I played really solid, not much happenings. It was just fairways and greens and I managed to make some putts. I am really happy with the way I played. This is already my third time in Bangladesh this year! I came here twice for the two ADT events and I have been here for the previous Bangladesh Opens as well.

I feel really comfortable out there. The people are very friendly and the food is good here. The golf course is in good shape. Everything is great. I played well here before so I guess that has given some confidence coming back here. I am just excited for the next two days.

It has been a great season for me so far, especially on the ADT where I am leading the Order of Merit. I guess my approach to the game is much better this year. My mental game is much stronger and I guess that’s why I am playing better. My attitude is better on the golf course.

I just try and relax, enjoy and not be too harsh on myself. I want to keep my focus on the golf course and stick to my own game plan for the next two days. You have to play the ball really well off the tees. I felt like I am hitting the ball good so I am going to stick to my game plan.

I birdied the third and 10th holes in my second hole which was great because those are really tough holes. I hit good wedge shots there.

Suttijet Kooratanapisan of Thailand

Suttijet Kooratanapisan (Tha) – Second round 64 (-7), Total 135 (-7)

My approach shots and my putting are very good today but my tee shots were not as good. I was able to hit it close on almost every hole. I managed to make putts from there as well. I had a great run on my front nine but I wasn’t thinking much.

I just played my own game and took it one shot at a time. I really want to win this week. I came really close two years ago. This is my first Asian Tour start this year. I took about two months off from competitive golf so I can rest my wrist, which was giving me some problems earlier.

I have many good memories on this course. I finished second two years ago when Thitiphun won. I hope to bank on these good memories to try for a win this week. This course feels like my home course back home in Thailand. I feel really comfortable out there.

Divyanshu Bajaj of India

Divyanshu Bajaj (Ind) – Second round 69 (-2), Total 136 (-6)

The conditions were really tough out there. The winds were swirling but I managed to stay composed and had a good finish with two straight birdies on the eighth and ninth. I am putting it well. I hope I can continue to putt the way I did for the next two rounds. We will see how it goes.

I am really tired. It has been a long day but I will head back and get some good rest for tomorrow. I just need to play my own game for the next two days and I should be fine.

Scores after round 2 of the AB Bank Bangladesh Open 2018 being played at the par 71, 6642 Yards Kurmitola Golf Club course (am – denotes amateur):

134 – Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE) 68-66, Zamal Hossain MOLLAH (BAN) 69-65.

135 – Suttijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA) 71-64.

136 – Ben CAMPBELL (NZL) 70-66, Divyanshu BAJAJ (IND) 67-69, Paul HARRIS (USA) 70-66.

137 – Mithun PERERA (LKA) 70-67.

138 – Thammanoon SRIROJ (THA) 70-68, Anura ROHANA (LKA) 69-69.

139 – Sydney CHUNG (USA) 70-69, Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 68-71, Kazuki HIGA (JPN) 68-71, Joshua SALAH (USA) 70-69, Casey O’TOOLE (USA) 71-68, Settee PRAKONGVECH (THA) 70-69, WANG Wei Lun (TPE) 65-74.

140 – Amir NAZRIN (MAS) 67-73, Robin Miah (BAN) 69-71.

141 – Nattawat SUVAJANAKORN (THA) 68-73, Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 69-72, Pannakorn UTHAIPAS (THA) 71-70, Janne KASKE (FIN) 74-67, Md. Sajib ALI (BAN) 70-71, Nirun SAE-UENG (THA) 66-75, Md Nur Jamal (BAN) 69-72.

142 – Chanachok DEJPIRATANAMONGKOL (THA) 73-69, Marcus BOTH (AUS) 68-74, David GLEESON (AUS) 69-73, Mohammad Musa (BAN) 72-70.

Ends.

About Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

Zhengzhou, Henan, China, May 11: John Catlin of the United States will be looking to bring his fine form to the St Andrews Golf Club for the Asia Pacific Classic, which will be played from May 17 to 20.

The 27-year-old, who finished commendably in eighth place in Korea last week, hopes for a similar, if not better result at the US$300,000 event, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the China Golf Association (CGA).

“I had an awesome week in Korea. I have been working very hard over the last couple of years and it feels great to finish inside top-10 on the Asian Tour,” said Catlin, who earned his Tour card by virtue of his third-place finish on last year’s Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit. The ADT is the feeder circuit for the Asian Tour.

He has played on the Asian Tour in 2015 and 2016, but he feels a lot more prepared this year.

"To be able to come out and perform like I know I can with all the work I’m putting in gives me a lot of confidence moving forward. I am excited to see what is installed for me this year."

On the Asia Pacific Classic, he said: “I’ve never played on mainland China before, so competing in the Asia Pacific Classic will be a new experience for me. I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing – taking it one shot at a time, focus on what I can control and giving it everything that I’ve got."

Leading the local charge is Yanwei Liu. The 20-year-old is one of China’s best young players and his biggest goal for the year is to secure his card for next season by finishing the year inside the top-60 of the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings.

Liu achieved his highest Asian Tour finish on home soil last year at the Asian Golf Championship in Xiamen. He was third, just a shot behind the eventual champion Bowen Xiao, who will also be competing in the Asia Pacific Classic.

“Hopefully, I can cap a good result in China. In fact, every tournament that I get to play on the Asian Tour is very important to me, as they all count towards the money list,” said Liu.

Catlin and Liu will be up against a strong 156-man field that includes 21 Asian Tour winners. Notable names include Lu Wei-Chih of Chinese Taipei, Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand and Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines.

The Asia Pacific Classic is the Asian Tour’s second stop in China this season. The tournament is part of the Asian Tour’s strategic partnership with the CGA where the goal is to grow and develop professional golf in the region.  

About Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

Ponte Vedra, Florida, May 10: India’s Anirban Lahiri got off to a good start on an opening day when low scores were in abundance at the Players Championship held at TPC Sawgrass.

Lahiri, who exited last year with a nightmarish 10 on the final hole in the second round, got a birdie back on it and it was one of the six birdies against three bogeys he had on Thursday to be placed tied-27th at the US$11,000,000 PGA Tour event.

Lahiri’s 69, which had a three-under-par 33 on the tougher front stretch, was also his first round in the 60s at the Players, where he has missed the cut in both previous appearances in 2015 and 2017.

Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat starting from the 10th was four-under-par through seven holes. That included an eagle on the reachable hole 12th, which has been modified to tempt the players to go for the green. But Kiradech was unable to keep up that momentum and finished at one-under-par 71 in tied-56th place.

There was a six-way traffic jam at the top with World No. 1 Dustin Johnson among those at 66. The others were Alex Noren, who like Johnson was bogey-free, 2012 US Open winner Webb Simpson, rookie Chesson Hadley, veteran Matt Kuchar, winner here in 2012 and Patrick Cantlay, former World Amateur No. 1 for 55 weeks in 2011 to 2012.

There were six more players at five-under and that included defending champion, Korea’s Si Woo Kim, whose 67 was the best opening round by any defending champion at the Players. No less than 14 players, including Spain’s Sergio Garcia, who was seven-under at one stage, were at four-under and another 12 were at three-under.

Tiger Woods (72) salvaged his round with an eagle on his closing hole, the ninth. Woods had two birdies, an eagle and four bogeys and he was tied-69th.

“No, you’re not going to win this tournament on Thursday. I’ll take anything in the 60s. If you can stay in the 60s for four days you’ll be fine. I think the course will get tougher on the weekend, but I’m looking forward to going out in the morning (in second round). I’m pretty sure that tomorrow morning when we go out it will definitely be a little easier than it was this afternoon. Probably slightly softer greens and lesser wind, so I look at tomorrow as an opportunity as well,” said Lahiri.

Putting, which has been a concern for Lahiri of late, showed marked improvement.

“I think that it (putting) was definitely better. I think I’m moving in the right direction. Finally getting more locked in on the speed. I think that’s been my main issue is my speed putting has been a little off. As that gets better, I think you’ll see more putts going in. So it was nice to make my 6-footers and to make the last putt about 13 or 15 feet,”added Lahiri who also holed out a 27-footer on the third, but missed a couple inside 10 feet.

On the ninth, his last hole, Lahiri had a great par save as he drained a 13-footer.

“I got a good start, being four-under after the first seven holes and then missed a lot of putts like the par putt on 18 and birdie putt on 1st, par putt on three and four which was inside seven feet. I was a losing confidence a little bit on the back nine, which I played two-over on the par-five. Opening round one-under, I know it’s not that bad but I just feel like I’m dropping a lot of shots out there,” said Kiradech.

“Today the way I was hitting the golf ball, especially towards the back nine, I felt like I should have shot something in the 60s. It was nice to turn the round completely around there at 9 (with an eagle). I had two par-5s on the back nine, (and) could have played those under par and it seemed like this golf course could have been had today. It was playing a little bit on the softer side, and with this heat — even the wind picked up, with this heat the ball’s flying forever,” said Woods, who scored better than Phil Mickelson (79) and Rickie Fowler (73).

The big names to suffer on the opening day were led by Mickelson and Hideki Matsuyama, who shot 79 each, while Jordan Spieth, after missing the cut here last three years, seemed to be on way to making it four in a row with a 75 that put him at 108th place in the field of 144.

Justin Thomas (73) was tied-86th while Tiger Woods (72) salvaged his round with an eagle on his closing hole, the ninth, and Masters champion Patrick Reed had an eagle on second and a double on hole in his 72.

 Ends.

Contributed by: V. Krishnaswamy at the Players Championship

About Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

Dhaka, May 9: Baby-faced Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand rode on a hot putter to sign for a solid opening round of six-under-par 65, seizing the clubhouse lead by one shot at the weather-disrupted AB Bank Bangladesh Open on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old Rattanon, who enjoyed a top-five result in the last edition, got his campaign off to a great start after firing seven birdies against a bogey to take his place atop the leaderboard in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.

Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand

Indian stalwart M Dharma and Tour rookie Jack Harrison of England posted matching 66s to share second place while Asian Development Tour (ADT) graduate John Catlin of the United States settled two shots off the pace in fourth following a 67 at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

Play was suspended at 12.17pm local time due to lightning threats before resuming four hours later. All 72 players in the afternoon session will return to complete their opening rounds at 6.20am on Thursday with the second round slated to start at approximately 8.00am.

American Berry Henson, highest-ranked player in ninth place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, grabbed a share of seventh place following a 69 while local hero Siddikur Rahman carded a 72 to tie in 58th position.

M Dharma of India

Did you know?

• Rattanon Wannasrichan claimed a wire-to-wire victory at the Thailand Open for his first Asian Tour title 12 months ago. He is also a one-time winner on the ADT in 2015.
• The 22-year-old Thai sits in a current 20th position on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, thanks to two top-five finishes in Myanmar and Japan.
• Rattanon hit six fairways and missed six greens in regulation but needed only 23 putts around the greens to cap a solid round of 65. His highlight of the day came on the par-five 14th hole where he chipped it in from 20 yards to save par.
• Rattanon enjoyed a tied-fourth place finish at the Bangladesh Open last year.
• M Dharma is a two-time winner on his domestic circuit. The 31-year-old, who hails from Bengaluru, turned professional in 2005.
• Dharma is making his third appearance at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open this week. He enjoyed a tied-seventh place finish when he played the ADT season-opener, also at the Kurmitola Golf Club, in January.
• Jack Harrison came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School earlier in January. It was his second attempt since 2013. The 27-year-old, who turned professional in 2011, finished tied-15th in the 90-hole tournament to secure his Asian Tour card for the 2018 season.
• John Catlin needed only 23 putts around the greens today. He missed only two fairways in his commendable round of 67.
• Catlin is a proud graduate of the ADT. He ended the 2017 season in third place on the final Order of Merit and secured his playing rights on the Asian Tour for the 2018 season. He is a two-time winner on the secondary circuit.
• Catlin has notched four top-10 finishes in five starts on the ADT this season, including a tied-eighth place finish at the Kurmitola Golf Club two weeks ago. He sits in second place on the latest ADT Order of Merit.
• Catlin secured his first ever top-10 result on the Asian Tour after finishing in eighth place on his own at The 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship in Korea last week.

Jack Harrison of England

Players’ quotes:

Rattanon Wannasrichan (Tha) – First round 65 (-6)

My game was really good today. I made a great par save on the par-five 14th hole. That was the highlight of the day for me. I hit my driver out of bounds and missed the green with my fourth shot but I managed to chip it in from about 20 yards to save par. It was amazing.

I had a good start to the round. I birdied my two holes from the 10th and that got my game going heading into the round. I like this golf course because it feels like the golf course where I used to practise when I first started playing golf back home in Thailand. The conditions and the grass are similar.

I had a good result here last year so I am feeling very confident coming back here. You need to hit it good off the tees to play well here. Putting is important too. I putted really well today which helped a lot.

M Dharma (Ind) – First round 66 (-5)

I drove the ball really well today. I missed only three fairways and hit 14 greens today. I hit the ball really good and was able to hit it close to the pins as well. I three-putted on one hole but other than that, it was a great round.

On the second hole, I made a 25-footer for birdie. That kind of kick-started my round today. I birdied again from four-feet on the fifth hole and then sank another seven-footer for birdie on seventh. On the eighth, I made a 14-footer.

I played the two ADT events here earlier and I like this golf course. I finished well in the first ADT event here in January and I felt really confident coming back here this week. This is a ‘placement’ golf course. You need to be accurate off the tees.

If you miss the fairways, it’s going to be very tough to make pars. I am really pleased with the way I played today. I hope I can continue to do the same for the next three rounds.

Jack Harrison (Eng) – First round 66 (-5)

I played pretty steady from the start. I was three-under through four holes. I felt pretty good after that. Off the tee is key to keep the ball in play on this course. I just hit fairways and greens out there and made putts. If it stays like this for the rest of the week, I will be pretty happy.

It’s a testing golf course. You got to hit the fairways. You can’t play the course if you are not hitting it well off the tee. I think that’s the key. A lot of holes can be pretty tricky. A lot of water that you can’t really see off the tee.

I am just trying to win this week. I got through the Qualifying School and I just want to make the most out of every start I get this year. A friend of mine, Chris Cannon, who played here a few years back, kind of guided me through the course a little bit before I came here.

I am loving it here so far. I got here on Saturday, nice and early just so I can adjust to the time difference from back home. I have seen quite a bit of the place so far and it’s nice.

John Catlin of the United States

John Catlin (Usa) – First round 67 (-4)

It was a really good round. I like this course. I played here for the ADT event two weeks ago and I had a good finish. It’s just good to get some of those positive vibes out there today. Obviously, I played well last week which got my confidence going for this week.

I just went out there and trusted my game. I hit a lot of high quality shots. It was pretty windy out there so it was good to be able to hit the ball solid. I made about two long putts but other than that, most of them were pretty close. I made a birdie from 35-feet on the par-five seventh.

It was kind of low-stress out there which makes it a lot easier. It’s a narrow course so tee shots are key. My ball striking was much better today. It was a bit off when I played in Korea last week.

I didn’t have the chance to do anything about it since after last week so it felt good to be able to hit it a lot better today. Wedge-play could have been a little tighter today as well. It’s something I am working on. I will just keep doing the same tomorrow. Nothing changes.

Ends.

About Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

Dhaka, May 8: India’s Chiragh Kumar will be looking to recover from his dip in form with a strong showing at the US$300,000 AB Bank Bangladesh Open which starts on Wednesday.

Kumar, a one-time Asian Tour winner, battled against a wrist injury at the start of the season but believes he can reproduce the magic when he returns to the Kurmitola Golf Club for the event where he came in tied-fourth last year.

Chiragh Kumar of India 

The 34-year-old Kumar, who has not made a single cut in five starts, found out he had developed a cyst in his right wrist earlier this season but reckoned he is well on the road to recovery after seeking help from physiotherapists.

Talented Thai duo Danthai Boonma and Poom Saksansin will also looking to pick up their first win this season at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open, which is celebrating its fourth consecutive edition on the region’s premier Tour this week.

Coming off the back of a career-first top-10 finish on the Asian Tour, American John Catlin hopes to ride on his fine form for another standout performance at the Kurmitola Golf Club, where he capped a tied-eighth place finish on the Asian Development Tour two weeks ago.

Siddikur Rahman, who emerged as the best local performer after finishing second last year, will spearhead a strong local contingent which consists of 43 professionals and six amateurs. They will take aim at keeping the trophy on home soil for the first time since the event was inaugurated in 2015.

Chiragh Kumar of India

Did you know?

• Chiragh Kumar earned his career breakthrough on the Asian Tour when he won the Panasonic Open India at the Delhi Golf Club in 2015.
• Kumar enjoyed a tied-fourth place finish at the 2017 Bangladesh Open. He came in joint runner-up at the Panasonic Open India later that year to finish 41st on the Order of Merit, retaining his card for the 2018 season.
• Kumar was part of the Indian national amateur team, which included 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Anirban Lahiri and eight-time Asian Tour winner Gaganjeet Bhullar, who won the team silver medal in the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
• The 34-year-old Kumar, father of one, is also the chairman of the Asian Tour Tournament Players Committee.
• Danthai Boonma is a one-time winner on the Asian Tour. His breakthrough victory came at the World Classic Championship in Singapore in 2015.
• Danthai enjoyed four top-10s on the Asian Tour in 2017, with his best finish at the Thailand Open where he came in fifth.
• Danthai is a double gold medalist at the 2012 South East Asia (SEA) Games.
• Danthai got off to a great start this season when he finished tied-fourth at the Singapore Open in January to earn for himself a coveted spot at The Open this July. It will be his Major debut.
• Poom Saksansin is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour and a one-time winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT).
• Poom claimed his second Asian Tour title in India last August and finished in a career-high eighth position on the Merit rankings to earn a maiden appearance at the 2018 EurAsiaCup where he represented Team Asia.
• Poom is making his third appearance at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open this week. He has failed to make the cut when he last played in 2015 and 2016.
• John Catlin is a proud graduate of the ADT. He ended the 2017 season in third place on the final Order of Merit and secured his playing rights on the Asian Tour for the 2018 season. He is a two-time winner on the secondary circuit.
• Catlin enjoyed four top-10 finishes in five starts on the ADT this season, including a tied-eighth place finish at the Kurmitola Golf Club two weeks ago. He sits in second place on the latest ADT Order of Merit.
• Catlin secured his first ever top-10 result on the Asian Tour after finishing in eighth place on his own at The 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship in Korea last week.

Players’ quotes:

Chiragh Kumar (Ind)

I haven’t really played well so far this season. I am just looking to regain some confidence coming back to play here. I like the course and I played well last year. The course is in great shape. It’s playing softer than last year but it’s still in good condition. This is a ‘placement’ golf course. The greens are soft and tiny so it’s important to place your ball on the right spots.

I have had my fair share of injury troubles since the start of the year but I am looking forward to this week now. I have been down and out, hoping to get my season started. I hope things will pick up from here onwards.

I developed a cyst in my right wrist sometime last year but I only got to know about it this year. The pain in my wrist started when I was playing in Malaysia earlier in February. I had to miss a few events prior to this week.

Having said that, I am feeling a lot better now, physically. Hopefully my game gets better as well. I have been doing physiotherapy for my wrist. No need for surgery as of now. I am hoping not to go under the knife. The treatment has been helping so far.

It’s great to see Indian players doing well all over the world. It just shows how strong our domestic Tour is. All of us came out from there. The competition is good. If you play well there, you can play well anywhere.

A lot of motivation and confidence for me as well, seeing Shubhankar Sharma, Shiv Kapur and Rahil Gangjee winning and Ajeetesh Sandhu, Gaganjeet Bhullar finishing well last week. We are enjoying a good couple of years for Indian golf. Hopefully I can be part of that.

Danthai Boonma of Thailand

Danthai Boonma (Tha)

The course is looking good. The conditions have improved from two years ago when I last played here. Hopefully the weather holds up this week. It’s been a little gloomy. The game’s feeling good. You got to hit it straight here and putt well to score on this course.

I had a good start to the season, finishing top-five in Singapore to secure a spot at The Open in July. The game’s been feeling good since although it didn’t really show in my results. I guess I just need to sharpen up my short game as they would be the key to play well.

Poom Saksansin (Tha)

I haven’t been playing well. I am not feeling confident with my game as of now but I hope things will change with a good showing to regain my confidence this week. I don’t know why the dip in form recently but I guess this is golf, sometimes you play well, sometimes you don’t.

This is my third attempt here. I have never made the cut before but I hope I can change the record this week. I haven’t set any targets for myself. I just want to make the halfway cut first. This is a tight course and not very long which suits my game I think.

Poom Saksansin of Thailand

John Catlin (Usa)

I had an awesome week in Korea last week. I have been working very hard over the last couple of years and it feels great to finish inside top-10 on the Asian Tour. To be able to come out and perform like I know I can with all the work I’m putting in, it really gives me a lot of confidence moving forward. I am excited to see what is installed for me this year.

There are a lot of good players on the Asian Tour. I always like the challenge to step up my game. I am just going to use the top-10 result last week to work harder on my game. My short game was on point last week.

I am excited to be back in Bangladesh. I was just here the week before for the ADT tournament where I finished tied-eighth. I am feeling very confident. I am just going to head out and see how I fair this week. Just have to keep going and hopefully I can ride on the good form.

Ends.

About Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

Singapore, May 7: Gaganjeet Bhullar’s fine performance at the 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship reminded everybody of his outstanding credentials.

The 30-year-old Indian is one of only four golfers in the field to break par at the challenging Nam Seoul Country Club. He compiled a four-day total of one-under-par 283 to get into a play-off with Yikeun Chang, Junggon Hwang and Sanghyun Park but was edged out after the first extra hole. Nevertheless, he is happy with his game that led to a tied-second placing, his highest finish in 2018 so far.

"I gave my 100 per cent and I played really well, especially the last 36 holes. I was steady and gave myself plenty of opportunities in the final round," said Bhullar.

Bhullar made history last year by becoming the youngest ever golfer to win eight titles on the Asian Tour. He achieved the feat with a stunning wire-to-wire victory in Macau last year. Earlier in 2018, Bhullar missed the cut at three consecutive tournaments following the Maybank Championship but has bounced back magnificently with a steely display in Korea.

Following the 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship, Bhullar earned a prize cheque of US$75,473.35 to ascend 19 places to 10th on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings.

Also making a significant move on the merit list is Chang of South Korea. He is now 13th on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, up 31 places from 44th. 

The 24-year-old has been a model of consistency in 2017, missing the cut only twice in eleven starts.  He narrowly missed out on winning his maiden Asian Tour title after his playoff loss to the eventual winner, Park, at the third extra hole. 

"I’m disappointed as I missed a couple of important putts today, but I believe I’ll bounce back. Second place is not too bad and I could have won the tournament if I had not made too many mistakes. I’ll learn from it and improve," said Chang.

The leading three places on the Habitat for Humanity Standings remain unchanged. Shubhankar Sharma of India stays on top with his current earnings of US$589,575. Englishman Matt Wallace (US$446,660) is second, while Indian Rahil Gangjee (US$283,018.87) is in third place. 

The Asian Tour will travel to Bangladesh this week for the US$300,000 AB Bank Bangladesh Open. The event, played at the Kurmitola Golf Club, is the country’s National Open and it will be headlined by 18 Tour winners. 

Top-20 players on the Habitat for Humanity Standings

Pos        Player   Order of Merit (US$)

1.    Shubhankar SHARMA   (IND)    589,575
2.    Matt WALLACE   (ENG)    446,660
3.    Rahil GANGJEE   (IND)    283,018.87
4.    Kiradech APHIBARNRAT   (THA)    265,573.14
5.    SihwanKIM   (USA)    226,710.14
6.    Paul PETERSON   (USA)    215,758.57
7.    Daniel NISBET   (AUS)    150,863.64
8.    Scott VINCENT   (ZIM)    145,208.76
9.    Berry HENSON   (USA)    131,983.57
10.    Gaganjeet BHULLAR   (IND)    131,214.35
11.    Hideto TANIHARA   (JPN)    123,306.08
12.    Shaun NORRIS   (RSA)    118,284.91
13.    Yikeun CHANG   (KOR)    110,826.17
14.    Khalin JOSHI   (IND)    109,730
15.    Jazz JANEWATTANANOND   (THA)    108,596.69
16.    Terry PILKADARIS   (AUS)    105,907.84
17.    Prom MEESAWAT   (THA)    100,469.67
18.    Masahiro KAWAMURA   (JPN)    97,643.15
19.    Jeunghun WANG   (KOR)    91,100
20.    Rattanon WANNASRICHAN   (THA)    89,773.02

Ends.

Dhaka, May 7: Local hero Siddikur Rahman will aim to bounce back from an uncharacteristic lackluster season on the Asian Tour when he headlines the AB Bank Bangladesh Open which gets underway on Wednesday.

Siddikur, a two-time Asian Tour winner, made only one cut in four starts on the region’s premier Tour this season but kept up his hopes of putting up a good showing as he relishes home course advantage at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

The 33-year-old Siddikur will also draw confidence from his recent success on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) where he claimed his second title at the Kurmitola Golf Club in January before securing another tied-sixth place finish on the same venue two weeks ago.

Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh

Siddikur will headline the US$300,000 Asian Tour event alongside Tour winners Rattanon Wannasrichan and Poom Saksansin of Thailand, two-time Order of Merit champion Jeev Milkha Singh of India, as well as Singaporean veteran Mardan Mamat, who won the tournament in 2015.

Qualifying school graduates Kurt Kitayama of the United States, Shohei Hasegawa of Japan, Australian Steven Jeffress and Miguel Carballo of Argentina will all be vying for top honours at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open.

Other notable players in the 144-man field include India’s Chiragh Kumar, Masahiro Kawamura of Japan, Thammanoon Sriroj of Thailand and China’s Yanwei Liu, who enjoyed a top-10 finish last year.

Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh

Did you know?

• The Kurmitola Golf Club is the home course of Siddikur Rahman, who used to work as a ball boy at the club to support his studies. He is currently attached to Kurmitola Golf Club as an honorary member.
• Siddikur marked the best ever result produced by a Bangladeshi at the Bangladesh Open last year. He birdied the 18th hole to close with a five-under-par 66 and a 13-under-par 271 total, finishing four shots shy of winner Jazz to take second place on his own.
• Siddikur became the first player from Bangladesh to win on the Asian Tour when he emerged victorious at the Brunei Open in 2010. Also became the first sportsman from his country to qualify for the 2016 Olympics on merit and was accorded the honour of becoming Bangladesh’s flagbearer during the opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.
• Siddikur’s wife, Samaun Anjum Auroni, became the first Bangladeshi female golfer to turn professional earlier in January. Auroni took up the game in 2010, the same year Siddikur won his first Asian Tour title.
• Siddikur claimed a commanding 12-stroke victory for his first ADT title on the same venue in 2011.
• Yanwei Liu of China claimed his first ever top-10 result on the Asian Tour at the 2017 Bangladesh Open. He closed with a five-under-par 67 to grab a share of 10th place.
• Liu, 20, enjoyed another top-10 result on home soil last November where he came in second runner-up at the Asian Golf Championship in Xiamen. The result, however, was not enough to help him secure his Asian Tour card for this season. He missed out on the top-61 cut-off mark by one rung on the 2017 Asian Tour Order of Merit.
• Miguel Carballo is the only Argentinean in the 144-man field this week. He came through the Qualifying School earlier in January and is the only Argentinean to hold an Asian Tour card for the 2018 season.
• The 38-year-old Carballo turned professional in 2002 and has previously won on the Challenge Tour and the Web.com Tour. He is playing on the Asian Tour for this first time since 2006 this week.
• Since making his ADT debut in Brunei in March, Carballo has notched four top-10s in five starts on the secondary circuit, including a tied-third place finish at the BTI Open, which was held at the Kurmitola Golf Club two weeks ago.

View from the 14th hole of the Kurmitola Golf Club

Players’ quotes:

Siddikur Rahman (Ban)

I am really excited for this week. This is the fourth consecutive edition of the Bangladesh Open and I am very happy to see the tournament back on the Asian Tour schedule. I think the other professional golfers in the country are equally happy too.

I am feeling confident for this week because I won on this course again for my second ADT title earlier in January. I am looking forward to this week. The game’s feeling pretty good. I prepared myself nicely for this event.

I took a good rest last week. I skipped the Korean event last week and just did some practice to prepare myself for this week. The course is in a great shape. It’s a little soft because of the rain over the last few days.

I had a good finish last year. It was a great memory. I birdied the last hole to finish second. Hopefully I can bank on those good memories to win the tournament this year. I have the home advantage and I know if I can play my own game, I won’t have any problems winning this tournament.

The golf scene in Bangladesh has really improved over the last few years, especially with the addition of two events on the ADT this season. I would like to thank all sponsors for their support and commitment.

I have been trying to work on my mental game and my fitness this season. These two things are really important if you want to do well, especially mental strength. I will keep working on these and hopefully some good results will show.

Miguel Carballo of Argentina

Miguel Carballo (Arg)

The game’s been feeling great for the past few weeks. I have been pretty consistent. I played well when I came here for the ADT event two weeks ago too. I am feeling really confident for this week. I am excited too as this is my first Asian Tour event this year.

I like this course. It’s similar to the course where I used to play back home in Argentina. The conditions are similar. The course is pretty flat and tree-lined and you need to hit it straight off the tees. You need a lot of concentration on this course.

I had a lot of fun out there when I first came here two weeks ago. I want to just enjoy myself again this week. I feel really good coming back here. I have been travelling a lot over the last two months.

I went back home to Argentina after getting my Asian Tour card at the Qualifying School in January. I came back to Asia for my first ADT event in Brunei in March and haven’t been back home since. It has been a good run so far and I am enjoying it.

Yanwei Liu of China

Yanwei Liu (Chn)

This is the third time I am playing in this event. I like the course here. I had a good result last year where I came in top-10. It’s good to be back. The course is pretty narrow and it’s not that long. It suits my game. Tee shots will be important this week.

I remembered playing good off the tee for the entire week last year. I guess that is the key to playing well on this course. If you can do that, you should be able to do well out there.

My aim is to finish inside top-60 on the Habitat for Humanity Standings to secure my Asian Tour card for next season. Hopefully I can cap a good result this week to achieve that goal. I try my best to obtain the best result I can every week.

With the Asian Golf Classic on home soil coming up next week, I really hope to play well as these two events are really important for me.

Ends.

About Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

• Sanghyun Park became the fourth Korean player after K.T. Kim, Sangho Choi and Namshin Park to have won the GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship twice.
• When Park won the event in 2016, it was also in a play-off against compatriot Soomin Lee.
• Yikeun topped the class at the 2016 Asian Tour Qualifying School which was his very first attempt since turning professional
• He enjoyed a commendable 2017, regained his Asian Tour card at the Qualifying School, made his Major debut at The Open and missed only two cuts in 11 starts on the region’s premier Tour.
• Gaganjeet Bhullar is the first player to win eight titles on the Asian Tour before turning 30. He is also the youngest player to achieve the feat on the Asian Tour.
• He has won once in Korea at the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2016.
• Bhullar holds the same number of Asian Tour wins with countrymen Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa. They are the only three Indian players with the most number of wins on the Asian Tour. 
• John Catlin has won two Asian Development Tour (ADT) titles but is still searching for his maiden Asian Tour win.

Ends.