GOLF NEWS: ASIAN /BPGA Tour - Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open 2019

ASIAN /BPGA Tour

Previous Winner

Malcolm Kokocinski (SWE)

Date: 03-06. Apr. 2019.

Tournament Name: Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open 2019

Course: Kurmitola Golf Club
Venue: Bangladesh

Total Prize Money: US$350,000

Players: 149.

03. Apr.
Round 1.

Leader: Maverick Antcliff (AUS)
Score: 63. (-8)

Flawless Antcliff leads the way at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open

Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 3: Australia’s Maverick Antcliff got his campaign off to a flying start after carding an opening eight-under-par 63 to lead by two shots in his debut appearance at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old Australian returned with a bogey-free card highlighted by eight birdies to stay ahead of local hope Mohammad Muaj, Chinese Taipei’s Wang Weilun, as well as Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, Settee Prakongvech and Sadom Kaewkanjana, at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

India’s Rashid Khan, who came off a top-10 finish on home soil last week, grabbed a share of seventh place alongside a host of players, including local hero Siddikur Rahman and Singapore’s Gregory Foo, after they signed for matching 66s at the US$350,000 event.

Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden opened up his title defence with a flawless 67 to trail by four shots in tied-12th place at the National Open of Bangladesh, which is celebrating its fifth consecutive edition on the Asian Tour this week.

Antcliff, who enjoyed a tied-fourth place finish when he made his Asian Tour debut in China two years ago, was thrilled to put up a flawless display of golf and regain some confidence after missing the halfway cuts in his last two starts.

Muaj, 21, emerged as the highest-placed Bangladeshi after marking his personal-best round at the highly-rated Kurmitola Golf Club while Jazz renewed his love affair with the course by putting up a strong start to the tournament which he had won before in 2017.

The Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open 2019 welcomed a new title sponsor in the National Bank Ltd, a public limited bank in Bangladesh. The tournament has been named in honour of the father of the nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Leaderboard

04. Apr.
Round 2.

Leader: Kaewkanjana Sadom (Tha)
Score: 127. (-15)

Sadom fires brilliant 62 to surge into halfway lead at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open

Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 4: Tour rookie Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand snatched the limelight after carding his personal-best round of a nine-under-par 62 to surge into the halfway lead at the ongoing Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open on Thursday.

The 20-year-old Thai, who came through the 2019 Asian Tour Qualifying School last December, fired an eagle and eight birdies against a bogey to pull away from the field as he holds a commanding seven-shot lead on 15-under-par 127 total following the morning session of the US$350,000 event.

Sadom’s solid run at the Kurmitola Golf Club could see him set the lowest 18-hole and 36-hole records in what is the National Open of Bangladesh, which is celebrating its fifth consecutive edition on the Asian Tour this week.

“My goal today was just to shoot under-par. I didn’t expect to play so well. I am really happy,” said Sadom, who broke through on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) after claiming his first professional victory at the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation in February.

Starting from the 10th, Sadom reeled in two straight pars before a birdie on the 12th sparked a hot streak which saw him go five-under in the next four holes. He dropped a shot on the 17th hole but would gain it back swiftly with a birdie on 18th to turn in 30.

The young Thai went on to add three more birdies on his back nine to cap a solid round, where he navigated his way around the greens in only 24 putts, including a 13-footer for eagle on the par-five 14th hole.

“I am really excited now. It’s been a good journey so far since I turned professional. I don’t think there’s much difference being a pro and an amateur. I just want to enjoy and not think so much about making money. Just play my game and be happy on course,” Sadom added.

Leaderboard