Aug 31, 2019: Indonesian amateur Naraajie Emerald Ramadhan Putra stands on the verge of becoming the first Indonesian in almost 30 years to win their National Open after he fired a third round nine-under-par 63 to take a six-shot lead into the final round of the Bank BRI Indonesia Open on Saturday.
India’s Shiv Kapur and Aman Raj lying in top 20 at T15. Shiv Kapur shot one-under-par 71 and Aman Raj shot one-over-par 73 in the penultimate round to tie for fifteenth place. Other Indian golfers Rashid Khan, Om Prakash Chouhan and Chikkarangappa S are lying just one shot behind Shiv Kapur and Aman Raj and tied at T25.
Indonesia has not welcomed a local winner since 1989 when Kasiadi emerged triumphant on home soil. And the country’s long wait for another homegrown champion could possibly end on Sunday as Naraajie’s commanding four-day total of 18-under-par 198 surged him right to the top of the leaderboard.
The confident 19-year-old knows he is carrying the weight of the nation and is relishing the challenge of what lies ahead in his final 18 holes at the Pondok Indah Golf Club.
Argentina’s Miguel Carballo, who is the reigning Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit champion, knows he has to bring out his ‘A’ game to have any glimmer of hope of catching up with the local hero after he signed for a 66 to take second place.
Overnight leader Itthipat Buranatanyarat of Thailand slipped to third place after carding a 71 and admitted it would take a herculean effort to clinch his Asian Tour breakthrough at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open.
Asian Tour Report
