Asian Tour: Pavit shakes off back injury woes to grab halfway lead in Jakarta
Pavit Tangkamolprasert cards second round 65 to sit one shot clear of field at fifth International Series event of season
After several painful weeks on the Asian Tour, Pavit Tangkamolprasert’s game has come good at just the right time in Indonesia.
A withdrawal, a missed cut and a tie for 20th did little to hint at the magic the 36-year-old Thai has shown over the first two days at the Jakarta International Championship, and how he has needed it.
Pavit’s five-under-par 65 on Friday moved him to 11 under for the International Series tournament, one shot clear of Gaganjeet Bhullar and Steve Lewton, a pair who both know what it takes to win over the Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course.
Bhullar has five Indonesian titles to his name, while Lewton won last year’s Mandiri Indonesia Open on the same course. The Englishman carded a 64 in his second round, while India’s Bhullar matched Pavit’s 65.
Low round of the day went to Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool, whose eight-under 62 lifted him into fourth on nine under, with Australia’s Wade Ormby a stroke behind in fifth.
Pavit’s round took off with a birdie on the par-4 fourth, and he rattled off three more in a row to reach the turn at four under. Further birdies on the back nine were undone by bogeys at 12 and 14.