Dhaka, Bangladesh, 09-05-2018
M Dharma shines on day one of AB Bank Bangladesh Open, fires five-under-66 to be tied second in the clubhouse
India’s M Dharma posted a five-under-66 to be tied second in the clubhouse on the weather-disrupted opening day of the Asian Tour’s AB Bank Bangladesh Open in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand took the clubhouse lead with a six-under-65 at the US$300,000 event being played at the Kurmitola Golf Club.
The 31-year-old M Dharma, a two-time winner on the PGTI, made six birdies against a lone bogey on the opening day. The Bengaluru lad is making his third appearance at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open this week. He enjoyed a tied-seventh place finish when he played the ADT season-opener, also at the Kurmitola Golf Club, in January.
Dharma said, “I drove the ball really well today. I missed only three fairways and hit 14 greens today. I hit the ball really good and was able to hit it close to the pins as well. I three-putted on one hole but other than that, it was a great round.
On the second hole, I made a 25-footer for birdie. That kind of kick-started my round today. I birdied again from four-feet on the fifth hole and then sank another seven-footer for birdie on seventh. On the eighth, I made a 14-footer.
I played the two ADT events here earlier and I like this golf course. I finished well in the first ADT event here in January and I felt really confident coming back here this week. This is a ‘placement’ golf course. You need to be accurate off the tees.
If you miss the fairways, it’s going to be very tough to make pars. I am really pleased with the way I played today. I hope I can continue to do the same for the next three rounds.”
Play was earlier suspended at 12.17pm local time due to lightning threats before resuming four hours later. All 72 players in the afternoon session will return to complete their opening rounds at 6.20am on Thursday with the second round slated to start at approximately 8.00am.
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