Young Thai talent Jazz Janewattananond battled into a four-shot lead at the US$300,000 Bashundhara Bangladesh Open after signing for a third round two-under-par 69 on Friday.
The 21-year-old Jazz, who held the lead in the first two rounds, put himself in prime position for a breakthrough Asian Tour victory as he traded four birdies against two bogeys for a three-day total of 13-under-par 200 at the Kurmitola Golf Club.
India’s Shubhankar Sharma failed to capitalise on a strong start where he fired three birdie to turn in 32 as he subsequently dropped four shots on his way home for a 72. The 20-year-old Sharma, who started the day one shot back, remained in second place on his own.
Home hero Siddikur Rahman kept up the local cheers as he returned with a 68 to trail by five shots in third place with playing partner Dodge Kemmer of the United States, who also signed for a 68, in the full-field Asian Tour event.
Richard T. Lee of Canada posted a 67 to move into fifth place on 206 alongside Indian’s Chiragh Kumar and Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand, who carded rounds of 68 and 72 respectively in what is the third leg of the Asian Tour schedule this season.
Singaporean veteran Mardan Mamat, who claimed his fifth Asian Tour win at the inaugural Bashundhara Bangladesh Open in 2015, grabbed a share of 12th place on 209 following a 68.
Interesting facts of the day:
- Jazz’s four-shot lead is the largest 54-hole margin at the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open. Previous winners Mardan Mamat (2015) and Thitiphun Chuayprakong (2016) had both held a three-shot lead heading into the final round.
- Jazz marked his best result on the Asian Tour when he finished tied-third at the Queen’s Cup in 2015.
- He is leading into the final round on the Asian Tour for the first time since turning professional in 2010. It is also his first time taking the lead for the first three rounds in a tournament.
- Jazz finished tied-38th in the 2015 Bashundhara Bangladesh Open and did not play in the tournament last year.
- Siddikur will be the first ever local player to feature in the final group in the final round of the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open, which was inaugurated in 2015.
Key quotes:
Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) – Third Round 69 (-2), Total 200 (-13)
I struggled most of the round but I had a good finish to put out a good score. I didn’t hit it close. The conditions were harder today I thought. The pin positions were difficult. It’s been windy since the start of the round too. I wasn’t thinking much. I was just playing against myself and the course.
I just tried to do my best out there. Sharma got off to a good start but I managed to hang it there. Playing in the last group in the final round tomorrow, my mindset is definitely going to be different. I will go out there and do my best to secure my first Asian Tour win.
I don’t know what will happen but one thing I am sure is I will be really happy out there. I didn’t expect to be playing so well before coming here. I had struggled with my game when I played in Qualifying School and on the Asian Development Tour event in Malaysia a few weeks back.
I really didn’t have any expectations coming here. I think I will be talking a lot to my caddy tomorrow. I don’t really want to use my head too much. I have been talking to my parents every night. They gave me a lot of encouragement over the phone.
It feels kind of strange that I am almost the oldest guy in the group today. You know you just think about having fun when you are young. I will go out there and have fun tomorrow.
Shubhankar SHARMA (IND) – Third Round 72 (+1), Total 204 (-9)
It was a really interesting round. I had a superb start but fell back on the back nine. Other than that, I think I still played pretty well. I am still swinging the ball good. I just need to putt slightly better tomorrow and avoid making as many mistakes as I did today.
I wasn’t thinking much really. I started well and I told myself to keep making birdies on the back nine. The drop shots were costly but I am still in a good position for tomorrow, although I would have liked the gap to be closer. It’s not over yet. I still have another round so I will do my best.
Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) – Third Round 68 (-3), Total 205 (-8)
I didn’t start that well but I am pleased with the way I bounced back from it. I managed myself well. I told myself that I still have a chance to fight back. I still have many holes to go. I just need to stay focused.
That helped me immediately on the third hole. I hit three shots but didn’t get on the green. Then I chipped it in from greenside for par. It was a good save and I picked up some momentum and confidence from there.
I hit a memorable shot on the 18. My tee shot was about 142 yards short and I hit a nine-iron to less than two feet from the hole. It was a nice finish. My fans were cheering for me too. It was a huge boost in confidence for me.
I am happy to stay in contention after three rounds in this tournament. It is the first time I am contending in this tournament. I just want to keep doing what I have been doing for the last three rounds tomorrow. If I can do that, I should be able to score again tomorrow.
Dodge KEMMER (USA) – Third Round 68 (-3), Total 205 (-8)
I really made the most of it today. I was just managing all the short irons on these greens out there. I just wanted to enjoy myself today. I knew I was going to play with Siddikur and I knew we were going to get a huge home crowd following us.
I was just trying to enjoy myself and have fun out there. The course can give me stuff that it gave me yesterday so I just try not to get too upset with bad shots. I thought it was a lot windier today. It makes it harder to judge distances out there. The pins were tougher especially on the back nine.
Richard T. Lee (CAN) – Third Round 67 (-4), Total 206 (-7)
I kind of figured out what I was doing wrong on the first day. I fixed a little bit on my set-up. I stayed patient out there and managed to hit a lot of fairways and greens. I made some putts too.
It was all straightforward birdies for me today. I hit it inside 10 feet and made the putts. Nothing special. Short game was key. I had a lot of good up and downs for pars.
It is my first time in Bangladesh. It feels really good to be in contention again. I will keep to the same mindsettomorrow. Hopefully I can shoot another good round.
Scores after round 3 of the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open 2017 being played at the par 71, 6637 Yards Kurmitola GC course (am – denotes amateur):
200 – Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 64-67-69.
204 – Shubhankar SHARMA (IND) 64-68-72.
205 – Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) 71-66-68, Dodge KEMMER (USA) 73-64-68.
206 – Richard T. LEE (CAN) 74-65-67, Chiragh KUMAR (IND) 68-70-68, Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 70-64-72.
207 – Udayan MANE (IND) 71-68-68, Sihwan KIM (USA) 70-69-68, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 66-68-73.
208 – Nicolas PAEZ (USA) 69-72-67.
209 – Mardan MAMAT (SIN) 72-69-68, Dulal HOSSAIN (BAN) 71-70-68, Brett MUNSON (USA) 74-66-69.
210 – Rashid KHAN (IND) 73-67-70, Peradol PANYATHANASEDH (THA) 70-69-71, Khalin JOSHI (IND) 69-70-71, LIU Yan-wei (CHN) 69-70-71.
211 – Niall TURNER (IRL) 71-72-68, Dongmin LEE (KOR) 70-73-68, Sang LEE (CAN) 70-72-69, Gunn CHAROENKUL (THA) 72-70-69, Youngjea BYUN (KOR) 69-71-71, Wolmer MURILLO (VEN) 69-70-72.
212 – Settee PRAKONGVECH (THA) 74-68-70, Panuwat MUENLEK (THA) 72-71-69, Sutijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA) 70-68-74.
