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)