Wiratchant keeps lead, four-way tie at second
Moch. N. Kurniawan The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Overnight leader Thaworn Wiratchant weathered the storm at the U$$1 million Standard Chartered Indonesia Open 2005 to remain atop the leaderboard on Saturday.
With rain disrupting play the morning and no players completing the third round before bad light stopped play at about 6 p.m., the backlog of rounds will have be completed on Sunday at Cengkareng Golf Club in West Jakarta.
The Thai, at one-under par after completing nine holes of the third round and 15-under overall, will have his work cut out for him to take the winner's check of $125,205, including fending off several dangerous challengers tied in second place.
The latter include fellow Thai Thongchai Jaidee -- Asia's player of the year and winner of the recent Malaysian Masters -- and tour journeyman Frankie Minoza of the Philippines.
Minoza, 45, who won the 1986 and 1990 Indonesia Open, reeled off a string of birdies for an eight-under par after 14 holes and one stroke behind the leader overall.
Thongchai was six-under par after nine holes, for a total of 14 under.
Also tied for second are Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts and Singapore's Mardan Mamat.
The leader lacked the steadiness of his earlier back-to-back 63 opening rounds, and said he was suffering the effects of a cold. He almost lost his ball with a wayward shot into the rough on the ninth hole.
"I have tried my best today but I played badly," he said. "Tomorrow, anything can happen. I will do my best to be the champion."
Minoza, a regular on the Japan Tour, was delighted by his sizzling round that included seven birdies and an eagle on the par-five ninth. His only let-up was a bogey on the unlucky 13th.
"I think this place loves me," said Minoza, who set a one- round record of 61 for the 2001 European Tour at the Singapore Masters.
Thongchai, who is also in contention for a place in April's Masters if he can pull off a win here, was satisfied with his performance on Saturday.
"The rain fell earlier in the day, and afterward I played very relaxed. Now I have a chance to win the tournament."
Two other Masters contenders, Colin Montgomerie of Scotland and Paul McGinley, were not so lucky and found themselves tied at 41st.
After lightning disrupted play on Thursday and Friday, the organizing committee tried its best on Saturday morning to deal with the rain by recruiting local "rainman" Basar Sumarta.
After his arrival, skies were clear for the rest of the afternoon.
"I will work until Sunday to help ensure that rain will not fall," said Basar, who noted other rainmen were on duty on the opening days.