Wiratchant keeps lead, four-way tie at second<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Overnight leader Thaworn Wiratchant weathered the storm at the
\nU$$1 million Standard Chartered Indonesia Open 2005 to remain
\natop the leaderboard on Saturday.<\/p>\n
With rain disrupting play in the morning and no players
\ncompleting the third round before bad light stopped play at about
\n6 p.m., the backlog of rounds will have be completed on Sunday at
\nCengkareng Golf Club in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The Thai, at one-under par after completing nine holes of the
\nthird round and 15-under overall, will have his work cut out for
\nhim to take the winner's check of $125,205, including fending off
\nseveral dangerous challengers tied in second place.<\/p>\n
The latter include fellow Thai Thongchai Jaidee -- Asia's
\nplayer of the year and winner of the recent Malaysian Masters --
\nand tour journeyman Frankie Minoza of the Philippines.<\/p>\n
Minoza, 45, who won the 1986 and 1990 Indonesia Open, reeled
\noff a string of birdies for an eight-under par after 14 holes and
\none stroke behind the leader overall.<\/p>\n
Thongchai was six-under par after nine holes, for a total of
\n14 under.<\/p>\n
Also tied for second are Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts and
\nSingapore's Mardan Mamat.<\/p>\n
The leader lacked the steadiness of his earlier back-to-back
\n63 opening rounds, and said he was suffering the effects of a
\ncold. He almost lost his ball with a wayward shot into the rough
\non the ninth hole.<\/p>\n
\"I have tried my best today but I played badly,\" he said.
\n\"Tomorrow, anything can happen. I will do my best to be the
\nchampion.\"<\/p>\n
Minoza, a regular on the Japan Tour, was delighted by his
\nsizzling round that included seven birdies and an eagle on the
\npar-five ninth. His only let-up was a bogey on the unlucky 13th.<\/p>\n
\"I think this place loves me,\" said Minoza, who set a one-
\nround record of 61 for the 2001 European Tour at the Singapore
\nMasters.<\/p>\n
Thongchai, who is also in contention for a place in April's
\nMasters if he can pull off a win here, was satisfied with his
\nperformance on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"The rain fell earlier in the day, and afterward I played very
\nrelaxed. Now I have a chance to win the tournament.\"<\/p>\n
Two other Masters contenders, Colin Montgomerie of Scotland
\nand Paul McGinley, were not so lucky and found themselves tied at
\n41st.<\/p>\n
After lightning disrupted play on Thursday and Friday, the
\norganizing committee tried its best on Saturday morning to deal
\nwith the rain by recruiting local \"rainman\" Basar Sumarta.<\/p>\n
After his arrival, skies were clear for the rest of the
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
\"I will work until Sunday to help ensure that rain will not
\nfall,\" said Basar, who noted other rainmen were on duty on the
\nopening days.<\/p>",
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