China’s Chen Guxin and Peter Gunawan of Indonesia share the lead after the first round of the Gunung Geulis Golf Invitational, supported by Nomura, as the event got underway in Bogor, on the outskirts of Indonesia’s capital city Jakarta.

The US$100,000 Asian Development Tour event runs from August 16-19, 2022 on the East course of Gunung Geulis Country Club. The par 70 course is noted for its mountain setting, with dramatic changes in elevation between tees and greens.

Chen, who won on The Asian Development Tour for the first time at the Blue Canyon Classic in May, posted the early clubhouse lead with a five-under 65. Starting on the back nine, he started well but a dropped shot on both nines marred an otherwise impressive haul of seven birdies.

His efforts were matched by Indonesia’s Peter Gunawan, also part of the morning wave, who posted a similar score of seven birdies and two bogeys to share the early clubhouse lead on 65.

As Gunawan explained, it wasn’t all plain sailing. “I think the start was OK, the first few holes were a bit shaky, the second hole I almost holed out and then on the third hole I hit it into the water on the left but saved my bogey luckily.

“On the par 5 at 13, I was really lucky. I hit a three wood a fraction too long and I was in the bushes, and from that chip I hit the pin which was really fortunate, because otherwise it would have been in the water.”

Working on his swing technique with coach Philippe DeBuschere and making some changes to his equipment with sponsor Leonian Indonesia, Gunawan is looking once again to enjoy the game.

“From my end, it’s like I’m more relaxed now, I’m OK. Taking the pressure off is a lot better for me and having my equipment checked was very very helpful.

“Having a mental coach has been a massive improvement. I missed something like eight cuts in a row. It was really frustrating. We still have three days to go here so I’m not too excited but it’s showing we are doing the right things.

“The biggest improvement has been short game. Being comfortable with the fact that I can chip the ball means I can go for more pins,” he added.

Chonlatit Chuenboonngam of Thailand, who finished solo third in June’s Indo Masters Golf Invitational presented by TNE, posted a pair of 33s to finish his morning in third place with a four-under-par 66, a clutch of birdies marred by a single dropped shot on the par-3 fifth hole.

Filip Lundell of Sweden is looking to recover the form that saw him challenging for the lead in the Blue Canyon Classic earlier this year. The gritty Swede scored two impressive opening rounds in Phuket despite the injuries from an unfortunate scooter crash but dropped back in the third round to fall out of contention.

The 27-year-old Lundell, who also plays on the MENA Tour, started strongly from the 10th tee in the morning but three dropped shots on his first nine countered by five birdies saw him make the turn at two under. Two more birdies as he completed his round looked promising but a further bogey on the oar 5 seventh saw him slip to a three-under 67 and solo fourth place.

Kevin Akbar of Indonesia, Malaysia’s Amir Nazrin and Abdul Hadi of Singapore were the early finishers who rounded out the top positions as part of a group in fifth with a score of 68.

Jerry Chen of the USA threatened to take the lead for most of his round but a couple of late bogeys saw him drop down the leaderboard to also settle in fifth. A similar fate befell Poosit Supupramai of Thailand and Lloyd Jefferson Go of the Philippines.