England’s Simon Dyson and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee are set to rekindle an old rivalry as they head into the weekend sharing the clubhouse lead in the Enjoy Jakarta HSBC Indonesia Open at the Emeralda Golf and Country Club.
A two hour storm delay in the morning did nothing to dampen their spirits as both players added four under par 68s to their opening 66s to move to ten under par 134, although their lead could come under threat with 51 players still to complete their second rounds in the event co-sanctioned by The European Tour and the Asian Tour.
Dyson and Jaidee may have posted the same score but the way they compiled their second rounds could not have been more different. While Dyson was a model of consistency, his card only spoilt by one dropped shot - his first of the week – Jaidee’s round contained a liberal mix of eagles, birdies, bogeys and a double bogey.
In his first 11 holes, the Thai had only three pars and it was not until his 12th hole, the third on the course, that he registered his first four. Prior to that he had made eight threes, two of them for eagle and four for birdie, and three fives. And just as it looked as if he had settled the ship and moved into clear water by pulling two strokes ahead, he three putted his penultimate hole for a double bogey five to fall back into a share of the lead with Dyson.
“In golf, you never know what will happen on every hole,” said Jaidee. “I am happy to be where I am - par or bogey, it’s not a problem. There are two more rounds and I have a chance.”
By contrast Dyson was steady as a rock as he continued to strike the ball sweetly and hole his fair share of putts although his first bogey of the week was down to three putting the 13th. Five birdies more than made amends.
Now Dyson, a three time winner in Asia in 2000, looks set to go head to head with Jaidee, a winner of two joint-sanctioned events and a further four titles in Asia. Both players have also won the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Dyson claiming the title in 2000 while Jaidee followed him in 2001 and then won it again in 2004.
“I have played a lot of golf with Thongchai and we seem to feed off each other pretty well,” said Dyson. “Hopefully I will be paired with him the last two days in the last group. It could be a good contest.”
In confirming honours were pretty even between the two, Dyson added: “He has beaten me a couple of times and I have beaten him a couple of times. He is a fantastic player so hopefully he will inspire me and push me along as well.”
As darkness descended, Swede Wilhelm Schauman came in with a 68 to finish on eight under par alongside Australian Andrew Buckle (69) and India’s Rahil Gangee (67).
Darkness brought an end to the challenges of the afternoon starters who will return to the course at 7am on Saturday to resume their second round. World Cup winner Stephen Dodd heads the list after he picked up six strokes in his first 13 holes to move within a stroke of the leaders at nine under par.
Wang Ter-Chang of Chinese Taipei also lies on nine under par with six holes still to play.
Ireland’s David Higgins started with a bogey but soon got in his stride with four birdies and just one more bogey to advance to eight under par through 12 holes.
Play was suspended for the day at 18.05 local time (11.05 GMT) due to darkness. Round Two will continue at 07.00 local time (00.00 GMT) on Saturday.
The third round will start at 09.30 local time (02.30 GMT) at the earliest with players playing in threeballs in a reverse U draw off two tees so the leaders go out last off the first tee.