Shubhankar Sharma continued his excellent form with a superb seven-under-par 64 that gave him a share of the first round lead with Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand at the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open here today.
Shubhankar, 20, who was Tied-11th in Singapore and Tied-9th in Myanmar, was third at Bangladesh open last year.
Tomorrow, Shubhankar had nine birdies against two bogeys, while the 21-year-old Jazz, had one eagle and six birdies against a bogey, at the Kurmitola Golf Club.
Overall, it was a good day for Indians, as Chiragh Kumar (68) was sole fifth and Khalin Joshi (69) was Tied-sixth.
Veteran 51-year-old Mukesh Kumar, who won his maiden Asian Tour title at Panasonic Open India in December, and young Honey Baisoya carded 70 each to be Tied-15th. Udayan Mane (71 and Tied-29th) and Sujjan Singh (72 and Tied-46th) were among others in line to make the cut.
But Ajeetesh Sandhu, Rashid Khan, Kapil Kumar with 73 each, Jeev Milkha Singh with 74 each, C Muniyappa (76) and debutant Arjun Prasad (77) needed to make low scores in second round to stay for the final two rounds.
Shubhankar's third place in Dhaka last year is his best Asian Tour result, while he also shot 10-under-par 62 in the final round of the 2016 Resorts World Manila Masters last November to finish tied-fourth and that helped him keep his card for 2017.
Shubhankar said, "I am very happy with the round. I just hung in there and made all the crucial putts. I hit it pretty close for all the birdies I made today. The shots that I missed, I did not missed by much. It could have been better. I have been playing well. I am just riding on my good form. I was hoping to get a good start to the week and I did.
"I am feeling confident with my game but I am not really thinking about winning yet. I am happy with my position right now. I will keep things the same tomorrow. I have to keep grinding out there. I think that is very crucial. Even if I miss the green, I have to scramble well. I have been putting well. I will keep up the good work," he added.
Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand carded a 66 to sit in third place while Singapore's Koh Deng Shan lurks three shots off the pace in fourth following a 67 at the US$300,000 event, which is the third leg of the Asian Tour schedule this season.
Singapore's Mardan Mamat, who won the tournament two years ago, returned with a 72 while Indian star Jeev Milkha Singh carded a 74.
Local hero Siddikur Rahman, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, battled to a 71 to tie in 29th position.
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