Lee feeling ‘spectacular’ after taking lead at BNI Indonesian Masters

Richard T. Lee shot yet another exceptionally low round, a 10-under-par 62, to take the first-round lead at the US$2 million BNI Indonesian Masters.

Last Sunday he also returned a 62 to finish equal second in the International Series Thailand – sensationally helped by six birdies in-a-row on the back nine – and he was in equally inspired form today at Royale Jakarta Golf Club making two eagles and seven birdies.

The Canadian is one ahead of Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, the winner of this event in 2019, who fired a 63.

Next best placed are Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin, Prom Meesawat from Thailand and Korea’s Kyongjun Moon, who returned 66s – in the 17th event of the season on the Asian Tour, and the seventh of 10 stops on The International Series.

Lee, who started on the back nine today, turned 34 two days ago and helped celebrate that by eagling the par-five 12th, where he hit a three-wood second from 275-yards into the wind to five feet, and then holed a seven-iron from 173-yards for an eagle two on the par-four 17th.

“Today was just amazing,” said Lee, who dropped only one shot.

“It’s funny, made that first eagle on 12, but then made bogey on 13 from the rough. So wasn’t expecting too much but then on 17 I hit a good seven iron, couldn’t see the ball go in but it went in. Today’s round, well, it was pretty good.”

He has finished in the top-10 in the past three Asian Tour events, and earlier in the year secured third place at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open. With eight top-six finishes, including three second places, since action resumed on the Asian Tour in 2022 after the global pandemic he has been one of the hottest players in recent times.

“I tend to putt pretty well on these greens. I love the atmosphere, I love the golf course,” added Lee, who has won twice on the Asian Tour before, at the 2014 Solaire Open and the 2017 Shinhan Donghae Open.

“I went to the Dunhill Links recently and had some problems with sleep. Finally got it back here and feel my game is pretty solid now. I have changed to a new putter and it’s working great. My shots have always been there, I am just feeling spectacular right now.”

Currently sitting seventh on both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings he just fell short of forcing a play-off last weekend after missing a birdie putt on the last.

Today’s 63 is one of Jazz’s best rounds for some time, and he put it down to hard work and his fondness for this week’s event and venue.

“I am happy with that. Great to play like that, I always play good to here,” said Jazz, who also won the Merit crown in 2019.

“There are not that many places I always want to come back but this is one. Most of the ones I would and where have won, like the Singapore Open and Thailand Masters, are not being played right now.

“This week is a long standing one where we come here every time. It’s one of the few that I really look forward to.”

He is currently working with US-based coach Dana Dahlquist and feels he is heading in the right direction.

He added: “I have done a lot of work on my swing. I am slowly getting a feel for it, understanding it. It’s slowly improving but still have some shots which are not right like today. Mainly working on not getting my right elbow stuck behind the ball. I get behind it and I lose it right. I have had a couple of bad seasons, but I think it’s been good for me, part of learning – it had to happen.”

Ariffin is currently battling to keep his card for next year, lying 157th on the Merit list, and needs to find some form quickly.

He’s only made two cuts in 14 starts this season but is hoping today’s performance will be the catalyst for a strong finish to the season.

Said the Malaysian, who was in the first group out: “It’s not been my best year, but hopefully today’s round will help change things. I have been working hard on all parts of my game, the swing and the mental side, but it has not been going well. Today my caddie and I decided not to force things, and not be too aggressive, and that 66 was a great start.”

Prom is also looking for a spark to ignite what has been a disappointing season so far.

"To be honest, I was very happy with where I finished with six under par,” said the Thai veteran, who last won on the Asian Tour in 2014.

“I was struggling a bit with my driver really, and I mean, I tried to work on something, tried to focus on process. If I can hit a drive, it shouldn't be a problem.

"It doesn't matter the distance the course is, you know, it is quite long for me. But yeah, I still can hit the irons, and I still can putt so I hope it's going to be okay for the rest of the week. I hit a lot of fairways today, but I had three snap hooks too and that's where I changed my mentality a bit and tried to focus, tried to stay with the process."

Asian Tour and International Series number one John Catlin from the United States returned a 69, the same as last week’s winner Lee Chieh-po from Chinese-Taipei, while his countryman Bubba Watson carded a 70.

Defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar from India also fired a 70.