Sekito extends lead at Gunung Geulis Golf Invitational
Bogor - Naoki Sekito of Japan remained in control at the Gunung Geulis Golf Invitational supported by Nomura as a resolute three-under-par 67 put him four strokes clear of the field at the Gunung Geulis Golf and Country Club on Wednesday.
Sekito, the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit leader, opened up a three-shot lead after setting the course record with a spectacular 62. He returned to fire seven birdies against four bogeys under blustery conditions for a 11-under-par 129 total in the US$75,000 event.
The 21-year-old Sekito, who has claimed one victory and three runner-up finishes in just six starts on the region’s secondary circuit this season, rode on a hot putter to cap a commendable round, highlighted by four birdies in-a-row from the fourth hole.
“I putted better than I did yesterday to be honest. My iron-play wasn’t as good. It was really windy this morning and that made it really tough to score out there. But I putted well and was able to make putts from 15 to 18 feet,” said Sekito, who amassed 28 putts in total.
Starting from the 10th hole, Sekito birdied two of his opening four holes before dropping shots on 14 and 17. A birdie on 18 saw him turn in with a 35 and he would go on to four straight birdies before closing with back-to-back bogeys.
“I made a good birdie on the 18th hole. I hit a three-wood off the tee and had about 125 yards to the pin. From there, I hit a 50 degree to about 10 feet and made that putt for birdie. That gave me some good momentum heading into my back-nine today,” Sekito added.
Australian Shae Wools-Cobb, playing in only his third start on the ADT this season, signed for a 66 to take second place while Thai trio Poom Pattaropong, Pannakorn Uthaipas and Kwanchai Tannin shared third place on matching 135s following respective rounds of 70, 67 and 66.
The halfway cut was set at five-over-par 145 with a total of 56 players, including an amateur, progressing into the weekend rounds.
The Gunung Geulis Golf Invitational supported by Nomura is the Tour’s second stop in Indonesia this season and the Gunung Geulis Golf and Country Club is hosting an ADT event for the third time since it first opened in 1992.
The leading seven players on the final ADT Order of Merit will earn playing rights on the premier Asian Tour for the 2020 season and the winner of the Gunung Geulis Golf Invitational will take home a prize purse of US$13,125.
For more information on the ADT, please visit www.asiandevelopmenttour.com.
Leading round two scores:
129 - Naoki Sekito 62 67
133 - Shae Wools-Cobb 67 66
135 - Poom Pattaropong 65 70, Pannakorn Uthaipas 68 67, Kwanchai Tannin 69 66
136 - Daniel Fox 71 65, Shinichi Mizuno 65 71
137 - Peradol Panyathanasedh 69 68
138 - Tawit Polthai 66 72, Pawin Ingkhapradit 67 71, Miguel Carballo 66 72, Samarth Dwivedi 69 69, Suradit Yongcharoenchai 69 69, Chonlatit Chuenboonngam 69 69, Atiruj Winaicharoenchai 70 68
139 - Panuwat Muenlek 70 69, Rory Hie 69 70, Udayan Mane 71 68, Galven Green 66 73, Nirun Sae-Ueng 70 69
140 - Jesse Yap 66 74, Amir Nazrin 68 72, Kasidit Lepkurte 73 67, Koh Deng Shan 68 72, Sam Gillis 71 69, Chinnarat Phadungsil 71 69, George Gandranata 65 75, Aman Raj 67 73, Matt Killen 69 71, Witchayanon Chothirunrungrueng 72 68, Gregory Foo 71 69
141 - Brandon Lau 74 67, Hyukchul Shin 68 73
