Golfer Leads BNI Indonesian Masters Despite setbacks
Canada’s Richard T. Lee heads into the weekend with a three-shot lead at the BNI Indonesian Masters after a remarkable second round, despite a bogey and double-bogey finish. Lee, who began the day leading after an impressive first-round 62, followed up with a 67 to sit at 15-under-par. He leads Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, who posted a 69, by three strokes.
India’s Rashid Khan and Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent are tied for third, each carding their second consecutive rounds of 67. Both players trail Lee by five strokes in the $2 million Asian Tour event, part of The International Series.
Lee had established a comfortable six-shot lead over Jazz with just two holes remaining, powered by an incredible stretch of seven birdies in eight holes starting from the eighth. However, he lost momentum on the 17th, where he pushed his tee shot and couldn’t recover, resulting in a bogey. On the 18th, he found the water, finishing with a double-bogey.
Reflecting on his round, Lee remained optimistic. “Pretty good,” he said, acknowledging his control over his iron shots while recognizing the need to steady his game for the final rounds. The Canadian credited his recent form to a putter change two weeks ago, which has built his confidence. “It’s so much easier to set up with this putter than the blade putter I’d been using,” he said.
Jazz Janewattananond, the 2019 winner of the Indonesian Masters, found a boost in his game by switching to a broomstick putter, a change inspired by a Pro-Am match with a friend last week. “I just took his putter for the last three holes, and I putted well with it,” Jazz explained. His switch paid off, helping him finish 12th last week, his best result this season.
Rashid Khan, who has faced a challenging season, believes he’s rediscovered his swing after struggling most of the year. “I was looking for something I could play with on the course, and it finally clicked at Black Mountain,” Khan shared. The Indian, a two-time Asian Tour winner, has also finished second six times and hopes to build on his recent improvements.
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The top of the leaderboard also includes American John Catlin, who shot a 66 and is tied for fifth, six shots behind Lee. Defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar of India made the cut at three-under after a round of 71.
With the tournament heating up, Lee will need to maintain his momentum and avoid late-round mistakes as he heads into the final rounds with a talented field in close pursuit.
