JAKARTA, 2 DECEMBER 2022 – The round two of BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE today is longer than usual. In the morning, more than half of the groups that played yesterday’s afternoon schedule completed the first round of the US$1.5 million tournament.

Mathiam Keyser (South Africa) who completed the remaining holes today took over the lead in the first round after scoring 65 (7-under-par). At 8 am, the second round of the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE started again. Keyser continued his dominance in the second round. The additional 4-under-par cemented the South African’s position at the top of the standings at 11-under par.

However, this time Keyser was accompanied by Sarit Suwannarut (Thailand) who rose to the top position. The score of 67 (5-under-par) has raised Sarit’s position in this tournament which is part of the International Series. The second round of the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE could not be completed because it was already dark. A total of 49 golfers must complete the remaining rounds today on Saturday morning tomorrow.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, the winner of this event in 2019, the last time it was played, fired a 65, and Indian Anirban Lahiri, the champion in 2014, returned a 70 to sit in third place three behind the leaders.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (67) and Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand (69) are one stroke back.

49 players were unable to complete their rounds as a result of delays caused by play finishing early yesterday because of lightning.

Jazz, who won the International Series Morocco last month after a three-year winless streak, is starting to look like the player of 2019 when he triumphed four times and lifted the Merit title. However, he admitted today a hectic playing schedule this year had taken its toll.

“I’m fresh now because I had three weeks off before coming in here, but when I played Morocco, or the weeks before that, I was so out of it,” he said.

“Seriously like in Morocco I was such a blur, I still don’t know what happened. And I walked home with a trophy so that was pretty lucky. So now after three weeks, I feel so much better, I feel like a new man.”

That’s a good place to be for a player in with a chance of winning three titles this week: the tournament, the Asian Tour OOM and the International Series ranking.

He added: “You know, I know what’s on the line. It’s like last time when I was here, so I’m not going to lie to myself that it’s nothing that I’m playing for. I just know what I need to do, I just need to play well and seize the day.

England’s Lee Westwood, a three-time winner of the Indonesian Masters, shot a 66 and is four under and South African Ernie Els came in with a 70 to be two under. 

*Credit Information to asiantour.com