Bangladeshi little-known golfer Dulal Hossain made a surprise 5th slot after displaying his brilliant performance in the 2nd round of the first-ever Asian Tour event in Bangladesh, the 3,00,000 US Dollars “Bashundhara Bangladesh Open 2015” at Kurmitola Golf Course on Thursday.
Dulal, who was settled for joint 20th slot in the first round after shooting 73, made a brilliant comeback on the 2nd day (Thursday) firing an eight-under-par 63 with one eagle, seven birdies and one bogey.
He advanced to the 5th place firing a 6 under par 136 (73+63) overall.
Unheralded Dulal produced the low round score thanks to seven birdies and charged into the title mix thanks to a 20-foot eagle putt on the 14th hole.
After the day’s play, Dulal Hossain said, “The weather was good today so I’m lucky I didn’t play in the strong wind this morning. This is the first time I’m shooting eight-under on this course, which is also my home course. I hope I will have a chance to win. This is my home course so I think I will have a big chance.”
Dulal’s father sold tea in the canteen at Kurmitola and he asked the caddy master if his son could be a ball boy and he said yes. Dulal was only nine years old then, as he started his journey in golf.
“I was promoted to a caddy at the age of 12 and when I had time in the morning, I would learn how to swing by using a tree branch,” said the young Bangladeshi golfer.
“One day, a member at Kurmitola saw my swing and he sponsored a golf set. I was 15 at that time and that was when I really started playing golf. My family was poor so I couldn’t afford to buy a golf set,” he relayed of his touching story.
“I hit an eagle today on the 14th hole from 20 feet. I used a five wood for my second shot from 230 yards. I’m 25 years old this year and I turned professional two years ago,” Dulal added.
Another Bangladesh player Mohammad Sajib Ali shared the 35th place with six other golfers battling at 143 with one over par.
Two-time Asian Tour winner and Bangladeshi celebrated golfer Siddikur Rahman, who fired a disappointing 72 to share 42nd place at his home course in Wednesday’s first round, managed to make the cut on the 2nd round sharing 55th place on Thursday with 13 other players scoring (72+72) 144 with two over par.
Other Bangladeshi golfer Nur Jamal also shared the same 42nd slot with Siddikur to make cut with two-over-par (73+71) 144.
Two more Bangladeshi golfers– Dil Mohammad (72+73) 145 and Shakhawat Sohel (74+71) 145, ranked 55th jointly making three over par with 18 other players to made cut.
Meanwhile Singaporean veteran Mardan Mamat let slip in his closing four holes to return with a four-under-par 67 and seize the second round clubhouse lead on Thursday.
The four-time Asian Tour winner produced six birdies against two late dropped shots for a nine-under-par 133 total to hold a one-shot advantage over Carlos Pigem of Spain, who also shot a 67 at the Kurmitola Golf Club.
Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat charged into contention with a fine 66 while little known Dulal Hossain, a former ball boy at Kurmitola, shot a sparkling 63, the day’s best round, to trail Mardan by three shots at the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.
The 47-year-old Mardan was dominant on his front nine when he turned in a 31 before an hour 30-minute weather suspension in the afternoon stopped his momentum as he returned to the course to shoot two birdies and two bogeys on holes 15 and 16.
“When you go in and out of the golf course, you might lose a bit of momentum. That happened to me today so hopefully the weather will be kind to us,” said Mardan.
Pigem, who has yet to miss a single cut this season, took advantage of the relatively calm morning conditions to continue his fine form as he searches for a first Asian Tour victory.
The second round of the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open was suspended due to darkness at 7pm. A total of five players will return on Friday at 6.30am to resume their round. The projected cut is currently at three-over-par 145.
