Oct 28, 2017: Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand fired three birdies in 11 holes to extend his overnight lead to three before play was abandoned for the day due to bad weather at the Indonesia Open on Saturday. India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar lying in top 10 at the end of third round.
Bhullar bounced back in third round with his brilliant play to recover from second round deficit. He fired flawless five-under-par 67 in the third round to tie at T9.
The penultimate round of the US$300,000 Asian Tour event was suspended at 12.42pm local time due to heavy rain. Officials later decided to call off play at 4.30pm due to persistent lightning threats at the Pondok Indah Golf Course.
A total of 57 players will resume their third round at 6.30am on Sunday with the all-important final round scheduled to start at 7.20am, according to the same draw as round three. Only nine players have completed their round today.
Panuphol, chasing for a breakthrough win, nailed birdies on the fifth, seventh and ninth holes to move to 14-under while Australian Anthony Quayle trails in second place with four birdies through 12 holes.
“I played 11 holes and I am on 12th green. I stuck it close on holes 10 and 11 and I think I have a good birdie chance on hole 12. Another day of golf for me and it was three Thais in the final group so I was very comfortable out there, it felt just like home.
I really wanted to finish today and it was a long wait but I will just keep going tomorrow. It was the same situation last year and I came back to play one hole on Monday”, said Panuphol.
Lionel Weber of France was on a hot run, setting the course ablaze with eighth birdies against no bogey in 17 holes before inclement weather halted play. The 27-year-old Weber had shot a brilliant second round 62 to mark the lowest round of the week last year.
Local talent Rory Hie moved within five shots off the lead as he goes six-under for the day with one left to play. He is the highest-placed Indonesian on the current standings.