Indonesia’s George Gandranata battled into a share of halfway lead with overnight leader Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden after carding a three-under-par 68 at the PGM LADA Langkawi Championship on Thursday.
The 30-year-old Indonesian, chasing for a breakthrough Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory, fired four birdies against a lone bogey for a nine-under-par 133 total to lead by one shot alongside Kokocinski, who posted a 69, at the Gunung Raya Golf Resorts.
Two-time ADT winner James Byrne of Scotland signed for a 68 to sit in third place while Asian Tour stalwart Danny Chia returned with a similar 68 to emerge as the highest-placed Malaysian in fourth on 135 at the RM200,000 (approximately US$46,600) event.
American John Jackson, Jordan Sherratt of Australia and China’s Cao Yi settled a further shot back in fifth following rounds of 66, 69 and 69 respectively while Order of Merit leader Itthipat Buranatanyarat of Thailand carded a 68 to stay four shots off the pace in tied-eighth position.
Defending champion Wilson Choo of Malaysia signed for a second consecutive 72 to barely made the halfway cut set at two-over-par 144 at the PGM LADA Langkawi Championship. He is among the 53 players who successfully progressed into the final two rounds.
Gandranata opened with two consecutive pars starting from the 10 before dropping a shot on 13. He recovered strongly with two straight birdies on 14 and 15 where he sank a seven-footer and four-footer respectively before going on to add two more birdies after the turn.
“I hit the ball well and I made a lot of putts like how I did yesterday although I didn’t make as many birdies. It was pretty much the same like yesterday. I played solid. I was one-over through three but I was able to recover well with two straight birdies from 14. I played some steady golf today.
“I will need to stay patient in the next two rounds. I have been in this position before and I know how important it is to stay patient out there. It’s going to be the same strategy for me. Hopefully I can hole more putts and try to extend my lead,” said Gandranata, who has not finished outside top-20 in his last three ADT events this season.
Kokocinski, who also started from the 10, traded three birdies against a bogey to cap a front nine 34 before reeling in nine straight birdies to remain in the lead.
“I played similar like how I did yesterday, just that I wasn’t able to hit it close enough to the pins today. I stayed consistent out there and I will continue to keep the ball in play over the next two rounds. It was less windy this morning but still as hot,” said the 24-year-old Swede, who opened his campaign with a sizzling 64.
The PGM LADA Langkawi Championship, jointly sanctioned with the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour, is the seventh leg of the 2016 ADT season and also the Tour’s sixth stop in Malaysia this season.
The ADT will continue to reward the top-five finishers on the Order of Merit at the end of this season with Asian Tour cards for 2017.
For more information on the ADT, please visit www.asiandevelopmenttour.com
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Leading second round results:
133Â –Â George GANDRANATA (INA)Â 65 68, Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE)Â 64 69
134Â –Â James BYRNE (SCO)Â 66 68
135Â –Â Danny CHIA (MAS)Â 67 68
136Â –Â John JACKSON (USA)Â 70 66, Jordan SHERRATT (AUS)Â 67 69, CAO Yi (CHN)Â 67 69
137Â –Â Chan-woo KIM (KOR)Â 67 70, Shaifubari MUDA (MAS)Â 69 68, Rizal AMIN (MAS)Â 70 67, Itthipat BURANATANYARAT (THA)Â 69 68, Kevin MARQUES (AUS)Â 69 68
138Â –Â Nicholas FUNG (MAS)Â 67 71, Pasamet POGAMNERD (THA)Â 68 70, Blake SNYDER (USA)Â 67 71, Gavin GREEN (MAS)Â 68 70, Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA)Â 66 72, Mathiam KEYSER (RSA)Â 67 71, Junmin SEOK (KOR)Â 73 65
