Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 30: Rising Thai star Jazz Janewattananond will spearhead a strong cast comprising of 20 Tour champions when he returns to the scene of his memorable Asian Tour breakthrough for the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open 2019 next week.

Placed second on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, Jazz is tipped to shine again when he challenges for his fourth title and a second victory this season at the US$350,000 event, which he had previously won in 2017.

Jazz will feature in the cosmopolitan 150-man field from 24 countries alongside former Order of Merit champions Jeev Milkha Singh of India and China’s Liang Wen-chong, as well as Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng, a 10-time Asian Tour winner, at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

The full-field Asian Tour event, which has grown from strength to strength since its inception in 2015, will also welcome the return of all its past champions when it celebrates its fifth consecutive edition from April 3 to 6 (Wednesday to Saturday).

Singapore’s Mardan Mamat completed a wire-to-wire victory for his fifth Asian Tour title in the inaugural edition while Thitiphun Chuayprakong of Thailand won by two shots for his maiden win the following year.

Jazz’s victory in 2017 was particularly sweet for him as it came shortly after the young Thai had lost his Asian Tour card when he did not finish inside top-60 on the 2016 Order of Merit and failed to regain his playing rights at the Qualifying School.

Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski became the third straight player in the tournament history to claim his Asian Tour breakthrough at the event, where he triumphed by three shots last year. He had enjoyed a superb run on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) prior to securing his first Asian Tour win.

Jazz’s amazing career turnaround two years ago marked the start of his epic rise as he went on to notch five other top-10s to finish in ninth place on the 2017 Order of Merit. He secured a second win and first on home soil before making his Major debut at The Open in 2018.

“I am really looking forward to going back to Bangladesh. I missed the chance to defend my title last year but I have great memories of that place as it was where I secured my first win on the Asian Tour. It was where I got my career back on track,” said the 23-year-old Jazz, who has enjoyed one win and two top-five results in five starts so far this season.

“I would like to see how much my game has improved when I head back to the same course next week. I remember shooting a bogey-free four-under in the final round to win the tournament. I can still recall every shot I made that week. I guess you will remember your first win for the rest of your life,” added Jazz.

The Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open 2019 welcomed a new title sponsor in the National Bank Ltd, a public limited bank in Bangladesh.

The tournament is named after the father of the nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Honorable Prime Minister of Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and the Chairperson of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust has given her kind consent to conduct the tournament in the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The highly-acclaimed Kurmitola Golf Club continues to provide top-class hospitality as the home of the Bangladesh’s National Open.

Ends.