Thailand’s Charng-Tai Sudsom made the most of his first tournament in Indonesia with a sparkling 62 at the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar & Nomura today, with only a double bogey on the par-4 14th hole spoiling a potential course record score.

Laotian Thammasack Bouahorn (64) threatened to catch Charng-Tai as the day’s play drew to a close but a dropped shot on 17 left him two shots adrift. Indonesia’s Kevin Akbar posted the early clubhouse lead on seven under par, but ended the day sharing third place on 65 with compatriot Syukrizal S, Japan’s Naoki Sekito and Sejun Yoon of the USA.

Yoon, making his first appearance on the Asian Development Tour since 2015, had something to celebrate on his final hole of the day, recovering from a run of three bogeys on the back nine with an ace on the Par 3 ninth on the East course, with a sweetly-struck four iron holing out from 205 yards.

Charng-Tai was ebullient after his first round in Indonesia, pleased with his performance on the West Course at Gunung Geulis Country Club in Bogor and ready for an as-yet-unknown adventure tomorrow on the East Course.

“I was hitting the ball very well today, and putting very well too on the back nine,” he said after his round. He will no doubt be looking to have another go at the current course record which is 62 on the East Course playing to par 71.

“At this golf course you need to be patient and try to make some opportunities for birdies. The course is very tough, I practiced yesterday on the West Course and it’s very tricky. I’m just trying to play good golf and just be patient, and have fun.

“I started on the back nine, birdie on 13 and then a double on 14, so I was struggling a bit and trying to get my momentum back. I just kept putting the ball in play, and my putting was good on the back nine.”

Kevin Akbar of Indonesia, pictured at the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar & Nomura. Picture by Yulius Martinus, OB Golf.

Asked about the Pro-Am format being played for the first time on the Asian Development Tour, Charng-Tai was encouraging about the prospects of this innovative format, used previously at the New Zealand Open on the parent Asian Tour.

“It’s a different format. Very excited about it but it’s a little weird, it made me focus on myself more than i am used to. Normally we play with pros, so you always see a pro hitting from the same place where you are.”

“My partner, Krishna, first tee he drove the green so I was a bit more relaxed, he showed me round the course,” he laughed.

The three-day best-ball format, which sees professionals partnered with local amateurs, is played this week on two courses, with 100 professionals and 100 amateurs over the first two days.

The professional players will be cut to 50 and ties after the first two rounds, and any playing in teams which make the top 20 will continue on the final day, but playing in the Pro-Am competition only.

In a group on four-under-par in seventh, Jeremy Wendelken of the USA shared honours with Indonesia’s Danny Masrin and the Thai duo of Tanapat Pichaikool and Jaturon Duangphaichoom.

Yuvraj Sandhu Sandhu of India headed a group in 11th spot on three under par, together with Filip Lundell of Sweden, Australia’s Deyen Lawson and Thailand’s Pannkorn Uthaipas and Jakraphan Premisrigorn.

Poor light towards the end of the day led to play being suspended and the few players left out on the course will resume tomorrow morning at 6.30 am. Normal play for Round Two will continue at the scheduled tee times from 6.45am.

Main picture; Charng-Tai Sudsom of Thailand pictured at the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar & Nomura. Picture by Yulius Martinus, OB Golf.