Indonesia’s Naraajie Ramadhan Putra faced down Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat in a close-fought duel at the Singha Laguna Phuket Open yesterday, the pair matching each other shot for shot for most of the round before Naraajie was able to secure an edge in the rain.

Play was stopped twice in the early afternoon and Naraajie was able to press home the advantage, shooting 64 to lead by three strokes on -15. Chapchai was up by two shots on the day at the start of the back nine but double bogeys on the 13th and 15th holes saw him finish with a 68 and solo second on -12.

“I’m really happy with my game this week,” said Naraajie after his round. “Driving and irons have been good, and also the putting. I made a lot of putts inside 12 feet today so I’m pleased with how things are going.”

“It’s been wet today, we had a couple of breaks for rain. It’s playing different than last year, they cut the rough so it’s changed how the course plays but the greens are pretty nice, they are rolling really good.

Chapchai Nirat (Photo courtesy All Thailand Golf Tour)

Winner of the OB Golf Invitational and the PIF Saudi Open on the Asian Development Tour last year, Naraajie is looking to build on his success by playing as often as he can around Asia.

“I won two times last year, which meant I got my Asian Tour card this year, but I haven’t played too well so far. I’m planning to play as much as I can this year to try to keep my card.

“I’m hoping for more events in Indonesia for the ADT, and also for the Asian Tour, this year. It’s a benefit for me to play here in Thailand. We had a lot of ADT tournaments last year in Indonesia which helped me to get my status so now I can play more overseas,” he said.

“The ADT events are good for Indonesian golfers as it gives them more opportunity to play against the best players on the Asian Tour and the ADT, it’s good to compete with these guys,” he added.

“This course has a lot of birdie opportunities and there are so many players here who can shoot low tomorrow so I will try hard and hope for the best.”

Poom Saksansin (Photo courtesy All Thailand Golf Tour)

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin posted another 66 to match yesterday’s score and sits in third place on -11.

China’s Wocheng Ye and Jack Murdoch of Australia both managed to advance up the leaderboard, with Ye posting the day’s low round with a seven-under-par 63, and Murdoch a 64. They share fourth spot on -10 with the Thai trio of Runchanapong Youprayong, Itthipat Buranatanyarat and Nopparat Panichphol.

Thailand’s Ekpharit Wu and Atiruj Winaicharoenchai share ninth spot on -9, one stroke ahead of compatriots Kosuke Yamamoto and Sirapob Yapala.

The Singha Laguna Phuket Open, which is jointly sanctioned with the All Thailand Golf Tour (ATGT), offers prize money of THB4 million (approximately US$117,000). The four day event concludes tomorrow (May 28).

Main Picture: Naraajie Ramadhan Putra (Photo courtesy All Thailand Golf Tour)