Indian trio strong at Bashundhara Bangladesh Open

The Bashundhara Bangladesh Open will be a good opportunity for players in the region to earn their spots in Rio de Janeiro

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Indian trio Chikkarangappa S. (66), Shubhankar Sharma (68) and five-time Asian Tour winner Gaganjeet Bhullar (67) took third place on 134 with Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe (66) and Sutijet Kooratanapisan (67) of Thailand.

Thailand’s Thitiphun Chuayprakong produced a bogey-free round of five-under-par 66 to soar into the lead after the halfway stage of the US$300,000 Bashundhara Bangladesh Open on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Thai, who opened his campaign with a 65, highlighted his round with five birdies to grab a two-shot lead over Korea’s Soomin Lee on 11-under-par 131 total at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

Chikkarangappa had a slow start to the round where he nailed only one birdie against eight pars to turn in 34. He dropped a shot on 10 but bounced back gallantly with a birdie-birdie-eagle starting from 12 before closing with a 25-footer birdie putt on 18.

“I played alright on the front nine. I stumbled with a bogey on 10 and I didn’t hit a good drive on 11 but the turning point came on the 12. I holed a 15-footer for birdie and made a second straight birdie on 13 before chipping in for eagle from just off the green on 14,” said the 22-year-old Indian.

“I am just going to stick to my game for the next two rounds. I have been in contention before and I just want to stick through it. It’s all about being patient, staying calm and relax. I just want to enjoy myself out there,” Chikkarangappa added.

A total of 70 players made the halfway cut set at one-over-par 143 at the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open.

With the Olympic Games looming in July where golf will be reintroduced as a medal sport, the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open will be a good opportunity for players in the region to earn their spots in Rio de Janeiro with the Official World Golf Ranking points on offer.

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