Spain’s Pep Angles set the early pace at the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament today, posting a seven under par 65 to claim the clubhouse lead in a weather-delayed opening round.

Play was suspended at 3.45pm due to lightning and heavy rain, with none of the afternoon wave able to finish their round at Damai Indah’s Bumi Serpong Damai course.

There are some heavyweight contenders still out on the course in this US$150,000 event and although only halfway through the first round, already more than half the field is at par or better.

For Angles, who has played in six of the seven events on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) so far this year, a solid start marked his growing familiarity with playing his trade in Asia.

“It’s been good since the beginning,” he said after his round. “I started with a few birdies and then kept it going. I was comfortable with my wedges today, and with my irons, and I think that made things a little bit easier for sure.

“I felt like I started so-so, but then I got it going after four or five holes and began to feel really comfortable with my driver. I kept hitting this low cut that put the ball in play, and it felt good.

“With my putting I started really well, then went a little bit cold on the back nine. But overall, it was a nice effort and I’m excited for tomorrow,” he added.

“It’s my first time here (in Indonesia) and I’m loving it. It’s a really nice area and the course is amazing — one of the most beautiful I’ve played.

“I didn’t have any status in Europe at the end of last year,” he explained when asked about his Asian journey so far. “I went through a couple of difficult years personally and professionally, so I wanted to rebuild everything and make a fresh start. I thought the Asian Tour would be the perfect place for that.

“I rebuilt everything with my team — my mechanics, my mental game, everything — and went to Q-School. I came just short of getting the main card, but I could play here on the ADT and so far it’s been great.

“The whole tour does a great job with organization and taking care of the players. I really enjoy it here, especially the vibe. The energy between players is great — we root for each other and there’s a lot of positive energy,” he added.

For the morning wave finishers, Yu-cheng Ho (66) of Chinese Taipei lies one shot back of the clubhouse leader, alongside Singapore’s Gregory Foo (66).

England’s Sam Broadhurst (67), Karandeep Kochar of India and Indonesia’s Peter Gunawan are on five under par, with their position under threat from many in the second session.

Thailand’s Kammalas Namuangruk (68) leads a group on four under par, alongside compatriots Charng-Tai Sudsom and Jakraphan Premsrigorn, Flint Bekkers and Christopher Hickman of the USA and Malaysia’s Ervin Chang.

Play will resume tomorrow morning at 6.30am.

Main picture: Spain’s Pep Angles, clubhouse leader in the weather-delayed first round of the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament at Damai Indah’s Bumi Serpong Damai course.