By Rahul Banerji
Md Akbar Hossain of Bangladesh kept up the tempo to stay ahead of the field in round two of the Mujib Borsho Chattogram Open at the Bhatiary Golf & Country Club on Thursday.
Hossain (67-66) returned a 6-under par 66 to lead by one shot for the second straight day on 11-under 133 at the Rs 50 lakh event, the PGTI said.
Delhi’s Kshitij Naveed Kaul (71-63) produced the day’s best of 9-under 63 to move up five places into second on 10-under 134.
The cut went at 5-over 149 with 50 professionals and three amateurs making the grade.
Hossain sank three birdies on the first four holes thanks to some good chip-putts.
The 27-year-old from Dhaka dropped a shot on the fifth hole but added four more birdies by the 11th hole.
He nearly found the green with his 3-wood tee shot on the par-4 10th to set up an easy birdie.
A 30-feet birdie putt from just off the green on 15 was one of the highlights of Akbar’s round. He had a bogey on 16 but still ended the day on top of the leader board.
Akbar, a professional since 2018 and a full cardholder on the PGTI, said, “I continued to hit a lot of greens in regulation for the second successive day.
“That’s what helped me create many birdie opportunities once again. My hitting has been exceptional so far.
“Even though BGCC is not my home course, I know the conditions well here since I play here quite often and have even had a runner-up finish at a local event at this venue.”
Hot streak
Kaul made an astonishing 10 birdies at the cost of a lone bogey to fall just one short of Indian professional Kapil Kumar’s course record of 62 set in 2018.
The 21-year-old, a two-time PGTI winner, scored six birdies on the back nine thanks to some outstanding approach shots and up and downs as he landed it to within five feet on five occasions.
His lone bogey was the result of a three-putt on 15. On the front nine, Kshitij added four more birdies including a 25-foot conversion on the ninth.
Kaul said, “I put myself in great positions thanks to my accurate approach shots today.
Good shape
“Even when I missed the green, I made some quality chip-putts. I took advantage of all the par-5s draining birdies on all four of them.
“I’ve enjoyed a good start to the season with a top-20 followed by a top-5 result at the two events in Ahmedabad.
“So I feel my game is in good shape at the moment and I’m looking to build on this foundation over the last two days.”
Bangladesh’s Md Razu continued in third place after shooting a second consecutive 68 that took his total to 8-under 136.
Bangladesh’s premier golfer Md Siddikur Rahman, followed up his first round of 71 with a 66 on Thursday to rise three places to fourth on 7-under 137.
Divesh Rana was the next best Indian after Kaul in tied fifth place on 6-under 138 along with Bangladesh’s Badal Hossain.
Md Zamal Hossain Mollah, another prominent name from Bangladesh, was T20 on level-par 144.
Also read: Hossain sets early pace at Mujib Borsho Chattogram Open
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