Jan 28, 2017: Shubhankar Sharma of India and Johannes Veerman of the United States are hoping for a dream week at the US$300,000 Bashundhara Bangladesh Open next week.
The duo will be among the elite cast at the Kurmitola Golf Club which includes Rashid Khan of India, a two-time Asian Tour winner, Richard T. Lee of Canada and Casey O’Toole of the United States.
Mardan Mamat of Singapore, who won the first Bashundhara Bangladesh Open in 2015, and hometown hero Siddikur Rahman will also feature in the event which is staged on the Asian Tour Schedule for the third straight year.
Since the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open was inaugurated in 2015, it has been a springboard for the careers of many young Asian Tour talents which include Soomin Lee of Korea, Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand and last year’s winner Thitiphun Chuayprakong.
Lee featured in the event in 2015 and 2016 where he finished in second and seventh place respectively before winning on the European Tour.
Phachara tied for fourth last year before going on to finish a career high of 14thplace on the Order of Merit.
The 20-year-old Shubhankar will have fond memories at the Kurmitola course where he fired a 65 in the final round to finish third.
He hopes another good result or a victory will give him the confidence to advance in his golf career on the Asian Tour.
“Yes, I’ve seen some guys playing well in Bangladesh and now they are playing and winning on the European Tour. It is great to see and it only inspires me to do well. I had a great final round last year so hopefully I can do the same this time,” said Shubhankar.
Veerman, the reigning Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit champion, played in his first ever Asian Tour event in Bangladesh last year where he enjoyed a tied ninth place result.
He continued his fine form from there as he enjoyed three other top-10s including a runner-up result at the Indonesia Open.
“The Bashundhara Bangladesh Open gave me a taste of what it feels like to play on the Asian Tour and from there I started to improve and won on the ADT and nearly won in Indonesia. The result last year helped me to finish 50thon the Order of Merit and retain my card,” said the 24-year-old Veerman.
“I’m really looking forward to the event again this year. I know the course better after playing last year so hopefully I can improve on my result,” added the American.
The Bashundhara Bangladesh Open will be the third leg of the Asian Tour schedule this season.
Asian Tour Release
