Daniel van Tonder is the best-placed South African after the opening 18 holes at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open in Jakarta.
A 67 has the South African, looking to help the trophy return to South Africa after Justin Harding’s victory here last year, two back after the first round at Pondok Indah Golf Course.
Itthipat Buranatanyarat (Thailand) and Viraj Madappa (India) share the lead.
It was good day’s work as he found 10 of 14 fairways in a bogey-free display, which left him sharing sixth with Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond among those posted 67s. Van Tonder took just 25 putts on Thursday to move ahead of JC Ritchie and Keith Horne.
The pair signed for 69s with another Sunshine Tour regular, Adilson da Silva, also at that number.
Ritchie will be disappointed as he looked to go low early on. He was four under at the turn before a few costly mistakes crept in.
Horne battled a relatively cool putter, taking 31 putts in round one.
Jbe Kruger signed for a 71 that leaves him fighting to make the cut, while Neil Schietekat must work back from a 76 if he is to advance to the weekend.
