Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat snatched the outright second round lead after signing for a three-under-par 69 at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open on Friday.
Despite being distracted by the loss of his mobile phone, the Thai still managed to return with a bogey-free round that was highlighted by birdies on holes five, six and 18 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course.
Itthipat’s two-day total of eight-under-par 134 gave him a slender one-shot advantage over South Africa’s J.C. Ritchie and Indonesian amateur Naraajie Emerald Ramadhan Putra, who trailed closely behind after signing for a 66 and 69 respectively.
Ritchie lived up to his billing as one of the contenders for this week with a more composed showing while Naraajie kept alive the hope for Indonesia to welcome its first local winner in almost two decades.
Australia’s Zach Murray, an Asian Tour rookie who won his maiden Tour title in New Zealand earlier this year, showed no effects of feeling under the weather, as he made up for his opening round 70 with a 66 to make up move up the leaderboard in the morning.
Murray is among the group of four players that include compatriot Jake Higginbottom, Thailand’s Kwanchai Tannin and India’s Aman Raj, who share fourth place, two shots back of Itthipat.
Like Murray, Raj is also playing in his rookie season on the Asian Tour and he showed no signs of nerve as he also surmounted a charge with a 69 that kept him in contention heading into the weekend rounds.
