Kernohan shoots into lead Tugu Pratama Open
Kernohan shoots into lead Tugu Pratama Open
JAKARTA (JP): John Kernohan of the U.S.A., who promised to
produce 10-under-par, more than fulfilled his promise yesterday
by storming to the top of the Tugu Pratama PGA Championship
leaderboard with a three-day total of 12-under-par 204 yesterday.
Kernohan, the 1996 Canon Singapore Open, topped the leader
board one stroke ahead of Lee Joon-suk of South Korea at the
US$250,000 tournament, part of the Asian PGA's Omega Tour, at the
Bumi Serpong Damai Course and Country Club, Tangerang, West Java.
A five-foot birdie putt on the 536-yard par-five 18th gave
Kernohan a three-under-par 69.
The 32-year-old American succeeded in not dropping a stroke on
his way round the highly-regarded 7,141-yard course designed by
American golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, making birdies on holes 1,
15 and 18.
"I hit my driver real solid today and made some nice putts,"
Kernohan said.
"This is a position I like to be in going into the final day -
a stroke or two ahead. I'll be nervous but I'm confident of doing
well. My coach always tell me to make it pretty, so I'll just try
and make it pretty in the final round," he said.
Overnight leader Thammanoon Sriroj of Thailand hit a 74 to
drift back to fourth place.
Lee, looking for his first title since turning professional
two years ago, carded the lowest round of the day a six-under-par
66 to finish in second place with a total score of 11-under-par.
The 25-year-old South Korean played the front nine in four-
under-par 32 which included three successive birdies. On the back
nine he bogeyed the 10th and birdied on holes 12, 16 and 17.
American Eric Rustand, who played against Lee during his
college days, is in third place on 10-under-par after returning a
four-under-par 68.
Rustand won the Omega's Tour previous event, the Pakistan
Steel Masters, two weeks ago where he had a seven stroke lead
going into the final round.
"In Pakistan I had to defend a big lead which was not easy for
me. I like to be aggressive and play attacking golf which is
something I can do in the final round here," said the 28-year-old
golfer.
The big-hitting Rustand went for the green in two on the last
but his ball finished in the lake. A good recovery chip allowed
him to save par.
"I really can't hit the ball much better than the way I'm
hitting it now. Today was a particularly good day," he said.
Thailand's Thammanoon Sriroj, who led after the second round
with 11-under-par 133, struggled in the third round before
carding a two-over-par 74 and lies in the fourth position.
Sweden's Daniel Chopra, a stroke behind Thammanoon after the
second round, also slipped back following a three-over-par 75.
(yan)
Selected results:
204 - John Kernohan (USA) (68,67,69)
205 - Lee Joon-suk (Kor) (68,71,66)
206 - Eric Rustand (USA) (69,69,68)
207 - Thammanoon Sriroj (Tha) (67,66,74)
208 - Kenny Walker (Sco) (74,66,68), Chua Guan Soon (Sgp)
(71,68,69), Clay Devers (USA) (68,71,69), Hendrik Buhrmann
(RSA) (72,67,69), Paul Foley (Aus) (71,67,70), Shin Yong-
jin (Sgp) (69,68,71), M Murugiah (Sgp) (67,69,72)
209 - Arjun Atwal (Ind) (72,68,69), Stuart Bouvier (Aus)
(73,67,69), Challa Wi (USA) (68,70,71), Daniel Chopra (Swe)
(67,67,75)
210 - Greg Hanrahan (USA) (69,73,68), Jern Smith (USA)
(70,71,69), Mardan Mamat (Sgp) (72,69,69)
211 - Charavall Aphol (Tha) (73,69,69), Mike Cunning (USA)
(72,69,70), Jaev Mikhal Singh (Ind) (70,68,73), Kim Jong-
duk (Kor) (70,68,73)
212 - Rodilgo Cuello (Phi) (71,72,69), George Olaybar (Phi)
(71,72,69) Rafael Ponce (Ecu) (72,70,70), Jeff Senior (USA)
(70,70,72)