July 12, 2018: Indian duo Khalin Joshi and Udayan Mane maintained good form at the Indonesia Open with a five-under-67 to finish one shot behind the leaders to share the third place.
Udayan shot five birdies in the first round to finish with flawless 67. Khalin also fired similar 67 with brilliant six birdies and a lone bogey.
Johannes Veerman of the United States returned to familiar grounds as he carded a six-under-par 66 to share the first-round lead at the US$500,000 Bank BRI Indonesia Open on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Veerman, who started his round on the 10th tee box, swung into high gear after shooting three consecutive birdies from holes 16 to 18. The only blemish on his scorecard was a bogey on the par-three fifth hole of the Pondok Indah Golf Course.
Veerman credited his excellent round to his intimate knowledge of the golf course as well as the calming effect that his wife, who is caddying for him this week, has on him. Australia’s Matthew Millar, who sunk four consecutive birdies from holes four to seven, is also in tied-first.
Paul Peterson of the United States also ended the day in tied-third with compatriots Kurt Kitayama and Dodge Kemmer, Indians Udayan Mane and Khalin Joshi, and South Africa’s Justin Harding.
2018 Asian Tour Qualifying School winner Seungtaek Lee sits in tied-ninth along with nine other golfers. The list includes Liu Yanwei of China, Natipong Srithong of Thailand and Jbe Kruger of South Africa.
Defending champion Panuphol Pittayarat carded a 70 to finish in tied-32nd.
The Indonesia Open received a title sponsorship from Bank BRI last week and has its prize money increased from US$300,000 in 2017 to US$500,000 this year. The co-sponsors for the Bank BRI Indonesia Open are PLN, PERTAMINA, TELKOM Indonesia, Batik Air, WIKA, BRILife, BRIAgro, BRISyariah and BRINS.