Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand fired three birdies in 11 holes to extend his overnight lead to three before play was abandoned for the day due to bad weather at the Indonesia Open on Saturday.

 
The penultimate round of the US$300,000 Asian Tour event was suspended at 12.42pm local time due to heavy rain. Officials later decided to call off play at 4.30pm due to persistent lightning threats at the Pondok Indah Golf Course.

 

 

A total of 57 players will resume their third round at 6.30am on Sunday with the all-important final round scheduled to start at 7.20am, according to the same draw as round three. Only nine players have completed their round today.
 

 

Panuphol, chasing for a breakthrough win, nailed birdies on the fifth, seventh and ninth holes to move to 14-under while Australian Anthony Quayle trails in second place with four birdies through 12 holes.
 

 

Lionel Weber of France was on a hot run, setting the course ablaze with eighth birdies against no bogey in 17 holes before inclement weather halted play. The 27-year-old Weber had shot a brilliant second round 62 to mark the lowest round of the week last year.
 

Local talent Rory Hie moved within five shots off the lead as he goes six-under for the day with one left to play. He is the highest-placed Indonesian on the current standings.
 
 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW?

 

• Panuphol enjoyed a tied-second finish at the 2016 Indonesia Open, after finishing three shots back of winner Gaganjeet Bhullar of India.
• The 24-year-old Panuphol has notched three top-10s so far this season. He sits in 23rd place on the current Order of Merit.
• Panuphol is nicknamed “Coconut” by his parents. He turned professional at a young age of 14.
• Weber had finished tied-eighth at the 2016 Indonesia Open. His campaign was highlighted by a second round 62 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course last year.
• Quayle is playing in only his third start on the Asian Tour this week. He turned professional earlier in January.
• Three Indonesians made the halfway cut at their National Open. They are all aiming to become the second Indonesian, after Kasiadi in 1989, to win the prestigious tournament.

 

Day 2: With Panuphol leading, Thai players take centrestage; India's Bhullar tied for 19th at Indonesia Open