Itthipat Buranatanyarat continued to show scant regard for the fact he has missed the cut in his last five events by carding a three-under-par 68 to take the lead after Round Two of the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Bangladesh Open today.
The Thai golfer, who led after Day One with a 65, impressively moved to nine under for the US$400,000 Asian Tour event – which is being played at Kurmitola Golf Club, in Dhaka, the tournament’s home since its inauguration in 2009.
Related: After five missed cuts, a high for Itthipat in Dhaka
Much to the thrill of the local support, Bangladesh’s talismanic golfer Siddikur Rahman returned a 66 and is two back, along with Thailand’s Kosuke Hamamoto, who fired a 69.
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Chang Wei-lun from Chinese-Taipei, in with 70, is a shot further behind.
Itthipat dropped a shot at the first, after a three putt, but showing new-found confidence he made birdie on the next three. He dropped shots on seven and nine, but again rebounded with a fine back nine with gains on 12, 13 and 18.
A professional since 2014 and a three-time winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), Itthipat is bidding to win his first Asian Tour title.
Earlier this year he tied for third in the International Series Thailand, for his best finish on the Asian Tour.
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He said: “When I missed those cuts, I just practiced more and more with my caddy Jee. We just never, never stand still, just keep going. When I practiced more, I saw what was missing. When I have been trying to hit a fade, the ball has been going straight, so this week I have just been aiming at the pin to make the ball go straight. No need to shape the ball.”
Siddikur learned to play at Kurmitola, where he has enjoyed phenomenal success, and won his National Open here in 2010 although at that point in time it was part of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).
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Since the event joined the Asian Tour in 2015 his best finish was runner-up in 2017 to Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond – so victory this week is at the top of his list of priorities.
“Well, it was a wonderful day honestly,” said the Bangladesh star, who remarkably has won two ADT titles at Kurmitola, over 30 local professional events, and five amateur tournaments.
“I made a few really great up and downs so it was not easy. But I’m happy that I got a few birdies and only one bogey today, so it was a wonderful day.
“Of course, there is a little bit of pressure, but you know I’m always happy to play this tournament. I’m just looking forward to playing my own game, that’s my goal the next two days. The rest I don’t need to know.”
He finished equal third in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in September for his best performance on the Asian Tour for some time, so he has been coming into form at just the right time.
Hamamoto, winner of the individual gold medal at the 2017 SEA Games, and Chang, who has won before on the ADT, are two other players looking for breakthrough wins on the main Tour.
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Said Hamamoto: “It was a very solid round in my opinion. A lot of good shots but also had a lot of good saves. Feeling very, very good about my game. I think what me and my coach have been working on is coming in the right direction. At the weekend, I will just go out and have fun. I mean, I’ve already kept my card and that was a big concern of mine a couple of months ago. But now that I have that secured, I just want to go and have fun tomorrow.”
“I drove the ball well today, only missed one fairway,” said Chang.
“But my iron-play and putting weren’t as good as yesterday. I made a few three putts on my front nine today, which is the back nine of the course. But glad to find some momentum coming back with three birdies in a row from the fifth. I didn’t think too much on the back nine. I told myself to just play. Almost made a hole-in-one on the sixth, had about two-feet for birdie there. Still in a good position for tomorrow. I’m sticking to the same game plan for the next two days, just need to pay attention to the details out there.”
