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 BNI Indonesian Masters presented by Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN), PT. Lautan Luas.Tbk and Bank Mandiri on Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

The 25-year-old, 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-ender.

 

 

 

Since his breakthrough at the Indonesian Masters in 2016, Poom has gone on to win 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 Asian Tour event of the year.

 

 

 

 

"This is not an easy course for me. I was just lucky today. But I think I like this course. I won here before two years ago. My putting was very good today. My iron-play was good too but my iron-play was the best.

 

 

"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," said Poom.

 

 

 

Jakraphan 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. It’s refreshing to see yourself able to play well especially when I missed so many cuts this year," said Jakraphan.

 

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.

 

"I’m hoping to do better than what I did in 2016. I’m feeling very good about my game. I drove the ball very well and managed to find most of the fairways.

 

"I had a good season this year. Although I did not win, I had some good results in India and Pakistan this year. But I may have a chance to win this week," said Suradit. 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 number two went back to the tee and would go on to mark his card with six birdies and two bogeys for another 68.

 

"For sure today it was a struggle early in my round. I was one over par through eight holes. It was a bit windier today. Today was tough to make birdies, I wasn’t quite on my game. I kind of bounced back pretty well. My goal now is to play free golf at the weekend and chase the leader," said Rose.

 

(Asian Tour)