Asian Tour Yearbook - 2022

He won the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship on the Asian Development Tour in 2016 before the drought set in. He added: “I started very good, on my second hole I got a birdie. Then the third hole is a bit tough because it’s a long par four and a little bit narrow, but I could make a par on that hole. After that I had a three putt on number six the par three. Then I just tried to keep my momentum, and keep my mind clear of everything, and just keep my plan and just do what I want to do. “Kosuke and I ate dinner together every day, we’re close friends and we practice together. It was a bit tight you know, I tried to keep fighting and just keep focus, just relax and focus.” Hamamoto, the SEA Games gold medal individual winner in 2017, was in pursuit of his first victory on the Asian Tour and despite finishing second he was more than happy with his performance. “It was a very fun round today,” said the Thai golfer. “I definitely felt the nerves out there, but I am very happy with how my game is trending. I just need to stay patient and do the same thing and I think my time is coming soon. I am really proud of how I handled myself.” There was no hiding the disappointment of Rahman’s fans; the country’s star golfer was bidding to win the tournament for the first time since it joined the Asian Tour in 2015. “My hitting was totally off, so I'm not happy with my hitting,” said the two-time Asian Tour winner, who won this event in 2010 when it was part of the Professional Golf Tour of India. “But I made a few up and downs which was very good. But overall, I still played one under so it's okay, but especially my hitting was totally off today and yesterday. “Overall, it was okay, the course condition was really awesome. Normally we are not used to playing the course in this condition. So overall it was a wonderful week for me.” He has an astonishing haul of titles at Kurmitola, where he learned to play the game, having won two Asian Development Tour titles there, over 30 local professional events, and five amateur tournaments. But players from The Kingdom have bossed the tournament since it joined the Asian Tour, winning four out of six times. Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand was the defending champion, having won in 2019 before COVID-19 meant the event could not be played for two years, Jazz Janewattananond triumphed in 2017 and Thitiphun Chuayprakong was victorious in 2016. No doubt Siddikur and his peers will face the same challenge in 2023. Danthai Boonma (FAR LEFT) came from one shot behind at the start of the final day. Kosuke Hamamoto (ABOVE LEFT) finished one stroke back from his close friend Danthai Boonma. Local hero Siddikur Rahman (ABOVE) tied fourth. I definitely felt the nerves out there, but I am very happy with how my game is trending. I just need to stay patient and do the same thing and I think my time is coming soon. I am really proud of how I handled myself. -KOSUKE HAMAMOTO 121 B A N G A B A N D H U C U P G O L F B A N G L A D E S H O P E N KU RM ITO L A GO LF C LUB , DHAK A | NOVEMB E R 24 -27, 2022 | P R IZE MON E Y US$ 400,000