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Feeling Returns for Dodd as he leads in Jakarta
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Feeling Returns for Dodd as he leads in Jakarta

Welshman Stephen Dodd leapt into a two stroke lead in the Enjoy Jakarta HSBC Indonesia Open at the conclusion of the second round after finishing off a sensational nine under par 63 at the Emeralda Golf and Country Club.

Dodd was among the 51 players who returned to the course at 7am to finish their second rounds following the two hour storm delay the previous day, picking up three birdies in his final five holes to complete a back nine of 29.

The 39 year old was downbeat after his battling opening round of 69 on Thursday and went back to his hotel searching for the spark which helped him to win two individual titles and the WGC – World Cup in Portugal for Wales last season. And the feeling returned for his second round on Friday as, after picking up two strokes on the front nine, he reeled off four birdies on the bounce after the turn before play was suspended for the day before darkness fell.

“I could have done with yesterday not being stopped by the bad light but I came back today and finished it off nicely,” said Dodd. “It was a good back nine. I hit it close a lot of times and it has put me in a good position.”

Trailing the leaders by one overnight, Dodd drew level with a five foot birdie on the 15th. Two putts for birdie on the par five 17th earned him the lead and he stretched that to two strokes by holing from 18 feet on the last after a six iron approach.

As to what suddenly clicked into place, Dodd said: “I just went back to the hotel and thought about things a bit and just got a feeling in my minds eye. It is just a feel that all players get and luckily for me I found a feel by just thinking about it and practising in my mind, which luckily I can do quite well.”

Wang Ter-chang of Chinese Taipei also picked up a shot for a round of 68 this morning on his return to the course to join England’s Simon Dyson and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee on ten under par 134 in a share of second place.

Wang started slowly on the restart and dropped an early shot on the 14th but he finished strongly with birdies on the last two holes to remain among the leaders.

“It was a slow game for me this morning butt overall it’s a good second round,” he commented.

Australian Andrew Buckle, India’s Rahil Gangjee and Swede Wilhelm Schauman lie on eight under par with England’s Benn Barham and Ireland’s David Higgins among the players on seven under par on the completion of their second rounds.

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