Ahlawat keeps himself in Indonesian Masters title race, Lahiri slips

By Rahul Banerji

For a third straight day, the threat of lightning forced an early end to the BNI Indonesia Masters in Jakarta on Friday, by which time Veer Ahlawat had renewed his title challenge.

With Anirban Lahiri losing some ground at the International Series event on the Asian Tour, Ahlawat was in shared third place alongside Graeme McDowell on 12-under par in their incomplete third round.

Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut led the clubhouse lead in the $1.5 million final tournament of the season 15 under after 14 holes.

Countryman Kosuke Hamamoto was two behind with three to play, while Northern Ireland’s McDowell was three back with two remaining along with Ahlawat, who had four holes to play.

It sets up a final day full of possibilities with the order of merit for both the Asian Tour and the International Series with the top 30 going into next year’s Saudi International from the Asian Tour’s Merit list.

In the fray

Lahiri who was tied for third overnight had slipped to tied ninth on nine-under after 15 holes alongside Karandeep Kochhar (17 holes completed).

Outside the top 10, Gaganjeet Bhullar (69-70-70) was T18 on seven-under, and Ajeetesh Sandhu T24  on five-under with one hole to go.

Honey Baisoya, Udayan Mane, Chikkarangappa S. and Rashid Khan were the others making the cut as was Ernie Els, who now mostly plays the Champions Tour in the US.

England’s Lee Westwood, a three-time winner of this event posted his second successive 66 to reach 10 under and take the clubhouse lead before he was overtaken, asiantour.com added.

Westwood won the inaugural edition in 2011, 2012 and 2015 and showed some of that form, making five birdies, including on the first three holes, on the front side to go out in five under.

“I three-putted 10, three-putted 12, but you know I birdied 11, 14 and 18 so kind of balanced that out,” said the 49-year-old.

“But it got a little bit tricky towards the end, the wind just picked up a little bit, 17 and 18 played tricky into the wind and out the left.

“But yeah, played alright and made a few nice putts, and hit some good putts that didn’t go in. I’m pleased with my day, at least we got finished.”

Strong rebound

Having opened with a first-round 74 the Englishman has rebounded brilliantly and blamed lack of play for his slow start.

He said: “It was a combination of a lot of things, but I had four weeks off coming into this week and hit balls for about three hours.

“So, you know, I went home did a lot of gym work but didn’t really work on my golf game, so I felt really rusty.

“I will just keep playing like I played the last two days really; you know hit a lot of fairways,” he said.

“I think this golf course gives you chances if you hit fairways, but as soon as you start hitting it in the rough it becomes tricky.

“I’ve driven the ball pretty well the last two days and started hitting my iron shots a little bit more consistent.”

Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Sihwan Kim of the US was four under playing his last hole with a whole host of permutations for Sunday.

Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, Phachara Khongwatmai, and Sadom Kaewkanjana, Canada’s Richard T. Lee and Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe, are all in contention and need to win to have a chance of toppling Kim.

Vincent, who leads the International Series OOM, gave himself an excellent chance of winning that and earning a ticket onto next year’s LIV Golf League by firing a 67 to finish the day on eight under.

Also read: Lahiri rises to tied third at Indonesian Masters, three off the pace