Indonesian golf fans got just what they wanted on the opening day of the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament today when Kevin Akbar [main picture], one of the country’s leading players, fired a bogey-free eight-under-par 64 at Damai Indah Golf (BSD Course) to share the lead with England’s Matt Killen – the defending champion.

Akbar, inspired by playing on his home course, made eight birdies, including five in the last seven on the second nine, while Killen, who won at this venue last year with a stunning winning total of 25-under, picked up where he left off with another fine round consisting of nine birdies and one bogey.

They lead the Asian Development Tour (ADT) event by one from Canadian Henry Lee and another Englishman Finlay Mason, after they returned 65s.

India’s Khalin Joshi and Tanapat Pichaikool from Thailand are next best placed following 66s, in the US$150,000 event which is one of the Tour’s most lucrative.

Malaysia’s Khavish Varadan, the ADT Order of Merit leader, shot a 71 and has work to do sitting in a tie for 48^th.

Akbar has triumphed once before on the ADT at the Indonesian Pro-Am in 2023. He tied for sixth in that event last week, where China’s Andi Xu marched to victory.

“Last week was good preparation and today feels pretty amazing,” said Akbar.

“Actually, this is my personal best at BSD. Everything went well. I will take it. I know the course a little bit more than others. I know where to miss, I know the greens.”

Matt Killen.

He is currently 46^th on the Merit list, while Killen sits in 14^th place – so both are in need of strong weeks in order to close in on the top-10 which secures them Asian Tour cards for next year.

Said Killen: “It was tough. I know the score doesn’t show that, but the wind was really tough out there, it was changing every 10 seconds.

“It was tough to judge, but I did it pretty well and holed a couple of putts when I needed to. It felt stressful and stress free at the same time.

“It’s great being back. I knew I would feel great when I got here, it’s a lovely course. We will see what happens.”

Last week’s champion Xu returned a 70.

This week marks the ADT’s second visit of the season to Indonesia, it is the 11^th edition of the tournament, and the 12^th stop of the season. Remarkably, a different nationality has won every edition of the tournament.