Shaaban Hussin
Niall Turner carded a second round 73 trading birdies and bogeys either side of the turn knowing he had work to do after an opening day 75 to make the cut, so a double bogey on the 15th put paid top his chances as he ended round 2 four over par overall - two stokes off the cut line.
Shaaban Hussin is one of the surprise leaders after the second round of the Indonesian Masters without hitting a single par in his first nine holes on Friday. The Malaysian posted a five-under-par 67 where he mixed his card with six birdies against three bogeys in the first nine at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
He is joined by Lee Westwood and Hyun-bin Park of South Korea on 9 under.
Shaaban’s two-day total of nine-under-par 135 equalled his best two-day score at the 2009 Brunei Open.
Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavasdikul shot the best round of the week so far with a superb 65 to share second place with countryman Kiradech Aphibarnrat in the US$750,000 showpiece.
Shaaban, a former Malaysian amateur number one, got off to a bogey start but rallied with four straight birdies before adding two birdies against as many bogeys.
He returned with a blemish free back nine highlighted by a monster 20 feet birdie putt on 12 before sinking a crucial birdie on the last from seven feet to set the clubhouse target.
“I had a bogey on my first hole and I never gave up from there. I tried to come back from that blemish and returned with four straight birdies. After the turn, I wanted to focus more and finished strongly which I did,” said the 30-year-old.
He earned his Asian Tour card in 2010 but struggled with consistency where he only posted one top-10 in Cambodia. He is hoping to make amends this week and celebrate the arrival of his son with a victory.
“I need to maintain my rhythm like how I did today. Everything clicked for me and I’m happy with that. I’ve more reason to celebrate because I welcomed a new son two weeks ago. I’m looking forward to the next two days,” added Shaaban.
Licensed pilot Pariya bounced back from his opening round 72 with a brilliant 65 highlighted by an eagle where he holed out from 90 feet on the par five 12th hole.
He was delighted to be in contention for the first time this season. “I just had more luck. I haven’t been posting any threats to the leaderboard in my last four tournaments so coming down here to put myself in contention is really good to see. This is a boost of confidence for me,” said Pariya who won his maiden Asian Tour title in the 2010 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
