Wiratchant keeps lead, four-way tie at second
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.