Shakhawat 'Aces' Asian Amateur Opportunity

Although Bangladesh may not be the first country one thinks of when talking about the growth of golf in Asia, the efforts of Shakhawat Sohel have ensured his country’s name will be forever etched into the history of the Asian Amateur Championship.

The 25-year-old from Dhaka recorded the first hole in one in tournament’s history, when he holed his tee shot at the par-three 15th during round one on Thursday. With 203 yards to the hole, his five-iron took two hops and he watched into drop in for the history-making ace.

Said Sohel: “I started really poorly (from the 10th) with two pars and a bogey, before taking a double-bogey on the par-three (13th). Then suddenly everything changed. I made a birdie, a hole in one and another birdie in three holes and I was thinking: ‘Wow,’ this is fantastic!’”

Almost as impressive as second career hole in one, though, was his vision of making one this week. Chatting with tournament officials on the eve of the event, he asked what was on offer for the first hole in one of the week.

The scratch marker said: “I met one of the guys who works on the Masters Tournament at the welcome party on Wednesday night and I asked him if there was anything for a hole in one this week. He said let’s see if it even happens and then the next day I made the hole in one and I was so shocked.”

Part of six-strong contingent from Bangladesh that started the inaugural Asian Amateur Championship last Thursday, Sohel was one of two who made the cut along with Jamal Hossain Mollah in an impressive statement on the diversity of top amateur golfers in Asia Pacific.