Friedlander leads, rain disrupts Tugu Pratama

JAKARTA (JP): Rain played havoc with the US$300,000 Tugu Pratama PGA Championship for the second consecutive day yesterday, but Swaziland's Paul Friedlander weathered the storm to keep in front.

Friedlander's 12-under-par 204 -- including 10-under-par 62 course record in the second round -- put him ahead of Clay Devers of the United States (206) at the Bumi Serpong Damai course. America Ted Purdy and New Zealander Simon Owen were in joint third two strokes back.

Indonesia's Kasiadi will have to pull out all the stops to reach his goal of winning the tournament. He is in a six-man tie for 15th on 212 with Kyi Hla Han of Myanmar, Richard Kaplan of South Africa, Bounchu Ruangkit of Thailand, Gavin Vearing of Australia and Lee Yong-hee of South Korea.

Friedlander had to complete his second round at around 6:30 a.m. yesterday after it was postponed by Thursday's rains, but he carded a remarkable 62, shaving three strokes off the old record.

He completed the final six holes in masterful fashion. He birdied four of the holes, including the last three.

Singaporean Murugiah held the previous record from 1994.

"My best record of 63 was made about five years ago in Swaziland," Friedlander said after the round. "But what happened today was really amazing."

The 27-year-old will bag a bonus of $1,000 for his feat from the course's management.

Course general manager TW Hughes said: "The record stayed for five years and six months. We had prepared the course for four months to make it more difficult and arranged specially for professional golfers.

"For four years the course has been the host for the tournament, but Friedlander is really a fantastic golfer."

Friedlander, who turned pro in October 1994, did not do as well Friday as he slumped to a three-over-par 75.

"I'm a little bit disappointed with today's results," he said. "But what can I say? I was exhausted and the rain really disrupted my concentration. If I had played half decent in the third round I could have wrapped this thing up."

"But I'm still optimistic to win the tournament. I'll try my best tomorrow."

He has collected $15,250 and is 73rd in Omega's Order of Merit.

Yesterday was catch-up day for Friedlander and the rest of the field. He teed off at 4:30 a.m. and played six holes to complete his second round. He then waited three hours to tee off again, but had to sit out a two-hour rain delay after 12 holes.

He completed his round in near darkness.

"I could barely see my ball on the final hole," said the Swazilander, who bogied the par-five 18th after pulling his three wood second shot into the water.

Rain disrupted Thursday's round twice and forced the organizers to delay play for more than two hours.

Several players had to resume their matches yesterday.

Downpours also disrupted yesterday's round at around 2 p.m. Fortunately, 65 of 144 players who made the cut were in the club house at around 6:15 p.m.

Tomorrow's Pro-Am tournament will offer $20,000 prize money. (yan)

Results Third round of Tugu Pratama: 204 - Paul Friedlander (Swz) 67-62-75 206 - Clay Devers (U.S.) 69-69-68 208 - Ted Purdy (U.S.) 71-69-68, Simon Owen (Nzl) 71-68-69 209 - Mardan Mamat (Sin) 74-66-69, Mike Cunning (U.S.) 67-72-70 210 - Christian Pena (U.S.) 69-75-66, Chang Tse-Peng (Tpe) 66-72-72, Jeff Senior (Aus) 71-67-72 211 - Kwon Young-Suk (Kor) 70-71-70, Jim Rutledge (Can) 68-73- 70, Craig Kamps (Rsa) 72-68-71, Brad Andrews (Aus) 67-71- 73, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 66-71-74 212 - Kasiadi (Ina) 74-72-66, Kyi Hla Han (Myn) 72-73-67, Richard Kaplan (Rsa) 71-72-69, Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha) 70- 73-69, Gavin Vearing (Aus) 68-72-72, Lee Yong-hee (Kor) 71-69-72 213 - Soe Kyaw Naing (Myn) 71-75-67, Supha Veerawut (Tha) 72-72- 69, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 73-71-69, Chua Guan Soon (Sin) 71-73-69, Kenny Walker (Sco) 71-71-71, Stephen Atako-Lindskog (Swe) 70-70-73 214 - Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 73-70-71, Dede Idris (Ina) 71-71-72 215 - Lee Joon-suk (Kor) 74-73-68, Maan Nasim (Ina) 70-74-71, Dominique Boulet (Hkg) 71-71-73