Jakarta: Thailand's Poom Saksansin believed he got lucky on the golf course when he broke his personal best record at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club with a flawless nine-under-par 63 to take the second round clubhouse lead at the Indonesian Masters yesterday.
The second round was suspended due to fading light at 5.50pm, leaving 20 players having to return at 6.20am to complete their rounds this morning. The projected cut is currently set at even-par with the third round scheduled to commence not earlier than 8am (local time).
The 25-year-old Poom, who won the Indonesian Masters in 2016, emerged as the man to catch after compiling a two-day total of 14-under-par 130 in the morning to take a three-shot lead over compatriots Suradit Yongcharoenchai and Jakraphan Premsirigorn, who signed for a 66 and 65 respectively at the US$750,000 Asian Tour season finale.
Henrik Stenson's hopes of closing the gap with Poom were dashed when he dropped two shots in his last four holes to head into the weekend rounds five shots back of the Thai in outright fourth place.
Since his breakthrough at the Indonesian Masters in 2016, Poom has gone on to secure another Asian Tour title in India the following year. The Thai is now seeking to win a title every year and is on course to achieving that at the final event of the year.
"The aim is just to keep playing under-par. This is not an easy course for me. I was just lucky today," said Poom. "I hope I can continue to play like how I did today but it will be tough.
"I will just keep playing and stick to my strategy and routine and see how it goes."
Jakraphan meanwhile found the form that led him to a tied-second finish in Pakistan two months ago by firing eight birdies against a lone bogey on 11 to surge into contention and bringing back that much-needed confidence.
"I'm playing on this golf course for the first time and to be able to post a 65 today is a really good achievement," said Jakraphan. "It's refreshing to see yourself able to play well especially when I missed so many cuts this year. Doing well in Pakistan also brought back a lot of confidence. Maybe that's why I'm doing okay this week."
Suradit, who finished in a share of second place, five shots behind Poom when the latter won the Indonesian Masters in 2016, is hoping to get the better of his countryman when the weekend rounds begin.
Defending champion Justin Rose of England remains six shots back of Poom after he signed for a 68. Rose had to return early this morning to complete his remaining four holes from his disrupted first round.
He dropped two shots in his closing three holes to sign for a 68 and after an hour's rest, the world No.2 went back to the tee and would go on to mark his card with six birdies and two bogeys for another 68 to share fifth place with Australia's Josh Younger and Thailand's Chapchai Nirat.
