Thongchai & Dyson lead at halfway - HSBC Indonesia Open 2006

Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and Englishman Simon Dyson held the clubhouse lead after matching four-under-par 68s in the second round of the weather disrupted US$1 million Enjoy Jakarta HSBC Indonesia Open on Friday.

The leading duo have a two-day total of 10-under-par 134 at Emeralda Golf Club, two strokes ahead of India's Rahil Gangjee, Australian Andrew Buckle and Sweden's Wilhelm Schauman, all on 136.

Chinese Taipei veteran Wang Ter-chang and Stephen Dodd of Wales, a two-time winner in Europe, were nine-under for the tournament when darkness forced the suspension of play at 6:05pm. Earlier, lightning forced a two-hour suspension which means 51 players will complete their second rounds on Saturday morning.

Thongchai, a two-time Asian Tour number one, kept up his title charge in the second round when he snared two eagles, five birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey. After two birdies on the 10th and 11th holes where he started his round from the back nine, Thongchai dropped shots on the 14th and 15th holes before sinking an eagle at the par five 534 yard 17th hole.

“At the 17th hole, I hit the green in two with a three wood and holed a 20-footer. I also managed to hole a similar length putt at the 10th hole which gave me a good start,” said Thongchai.

Play was suspended at 10:17am due to lightning and subsequently resumed at 12:15pm. It turned out to be a good break for the Thai ace who fired his second consecutive eagle at the par five 546 yard first hole and he followed that up with a birdie on the second hole. He dropped a shot on the fifth before shooting a birdie on the seventh.

For the second day running though, a late blemish saw Thongchai lose grip of sole lead when he stumbled on the par three eighth hole, running up a double bogey. He missed the green with his tee shot and then three putted.

"I putted well," said Thongchai despite his late troubles. "I had two bogeys on the front nine and faced more trouble at number eight. But overall, I’m happy as I had some great putts. I have a good chance and I will try my best," said Thongchai, currently third on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit.

Dyson, 29, is staging a strong showing in Jakarta when he shot five birdies against a lone bogey for the joint lead. He had previously won the Asian Tour Order of Merit title as a rookie in 2000.

“I’m very pleased. The game felt better yesterday but the putting felt better today so it has evened itself out a bit,” said Dyson, a three-time winner in Asia.

“I am just going to go into the next couple of days and continue what I have been doing. My game is on good form, it has been since the start of the season. I'm striking the ball well and the putter has been working well this week,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gangjee forced his way into contention. He was back in the swing with three birdies on his outward nine followed by a similar feat on inward stretch before dropping a bogey on the ninth hole.

“I kept it solid through and through. I birdied early on and backed it up with birdies on the first, second and fourth holes,” said Gangjee, who has one win on the Asian Tour.

The weather break proved to be useful for Gangjee who is nursing a sore wrist. “During the two hour stop, I consulted the physiotherapist and I was told that it was fine. So now I can get back to my original swing. At one point yesterday, I had no wrist action at all due to the injury,” he said.

Dodd, the 2004 Volvo China Open winner, charged up the leaderboard with four birdies on the trot from the 10th hole when play was suspended for the day as he moved to six under for the round through 13 holes and nine-under for the tournament. Wang, one of the co-overnight leaders, shot four birdies against a lone dropped shot after playing 13 holes.

Title holder Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, last year's Asian Tour number one, was also making a move up the leaderboard as he cruised to five under for the round and the championship through 13 holes while Korea's Charlie Wi completed his second round with a 70 and lies on 142.

The Enjoy Jakarta HSBC Indonesia Open is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.