Sukree lies two shots off the pace after rain-hit first round

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s Sukree Othman lies just two shots off the pace after the first round of the rain-affected Indonesian Open.

Sukree, who carded six birdies and a bogey for a five-under 67 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta yesterday, is in a three-way tie for fourth spot with South Korea’s Hong Soon-sang and USA’s Jason Knutzon.

India’s Khalin Joshi and Thailand’s Chinnarat Phadungsil share the clubhouse lead on 65s with Taiwan’s Hung Chien-yao a further shot adrift in third.

A total of 56 players have yet to complete to their rounds.

Ben Leong also got off to a good start in the US$300,000 (RM1.32mil) event. The one-time Asian Tour winner is tied for eighth on four-under 68, after six birdies and two bogeys.

Kemarol Baharin registered a 70 to tie for 25th with Rizal Amin in joint 43rd following a 71 while Airil Rizman Zahari struggled with a twoover 74.

Sukree, 39, was pleased with his first-round effort. “I couldn’t have asked for a better start,” said Sukree, who won the Perlis Closed Championship last month to end his three-year title drought on the PGM Tour.

At the Australian Open in Sydney, Khor Kheng Hwai emerged as the top Malaysian on the first day after carding an even-par 72 to be joint 50th.

Australian duo Lucas Herbert and amateur Curtis Luck carded five-under 67s to grab a share of the opening round lead.