India’s Yuvraj Singh Sandhu made the most of easier conditions with an early start, posting the low round of the day to secure joint lead after second round of the BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur tournament at Damai Indah Golf.

His score of 64 on the BSD course put him in a tie for the lead on 13 under par with Ho Yu-cheng of Chinese Taipei, closely followed by overnight leader Jakraphan Premsirigorn of Thailand in the US$125,000 Asian Development Tour tournament.

“It was a good round, early morning start,” said Sandhu after the round. “It’s always tough to get the body going, the engine going on, but luckily my putter was hot and I started with two birdies back to back which set the momentum for the front nine.

“I knew that I was -6 through the front nine and I just kept on pushing it. I had a little bit of a hiccup on the 14th but just before that on the 13th I made an eagle from about 250 yards out,” he added.

“All in all my game is trending in the right direction, the off-season is paying out. There’s been a lot of work in the gym with my trainer and my physio, and also with my coaches, and a lot of games with the boys back home, mentors like Ajeetesh Sandhu and other Asian Tour players that are already there. Games with them help me sharpen my skills.

Ho Yu-cheng of Chinese Taipei pictured in action at the BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament at Damai Indah Golf, BSD Course. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf.

Asked if there was one thing that had helped him particularly in the game, he was confident in his approach play. “I think it would be just hitting it into the green. I think my proximity to the hole was better than I expected it to be but as soon as I started trusting it more, the proximity to the hole was really good and obviously the putter was hot.”

Ho posted the early clubhouse lead with a score of 65 and was pleased with his progress after an opening day score of 66 despite three dropped shots.

“Today’s round was pretty good, bogey free, and only around 27 putts,” he said after his round. “My second shots were good and gave me the opportunity to get a few birdies.

With four birdies on the front nine Ho then picked up another birdie and an eagle to finish the round, with his drive leaving him just over 200 yards, and he was able to hit his four iron to within six feet.

“The course was playing a little bit easier today. I started early in the morning and there was just a little wind so it was good to play,” he said. “The green’s are not like last week, not so fast, but I think the score will probably go to -23 or -24,” he predicted.

Minhyeok Yang of Korea pictured in action at the BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament at Damai Indah Golf, BSD Course. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf.

Thailand’s Jakraphan maintained his momentum with a score of 68, and he holds third place going into the final two rounds.

Korea’s Min Hyeok Yang also posted a 68 to secure a share of fourth place with Malaysia’s Amir Nazrin (66), just ahead of his compatriot Ervin Chang (66), Huang Chi (67) of Chinese Taipei and the Thai trio of Sarun Sirithon (70), Witchayapat Sinsrang (65) and Witchayanon Chothirunrungrueng (67) who are tied for sixth on eight under par.

One shot back in joint 11th spot on -7 are India’s Samarth Dwivedi (66), William Harrold (66) of England, Ireland’s Kevin Phelan (67), Ahmad Baig (70) of Pakistan and the leading local player, Indonesia’s Danny Masrin (70).