The former US college star fired a third round five-under-par 67 for a three-round aggregate of 13-under-par 203 at Imperial Klub Golf, just outside Jakarta.
Australian Mathew Millar, the first and second round leader, carded a 71 and is in second place one stroke behind. He did well to stay in contention as he was suffering from a fever and headaches which started last night.
In what is threatening to be a landmark week for golf in Indonesia a pumped up Hie nailed seven birdies to charge into the lead. A double bogey on the 13th saw him fall one shot behind Millar but then the Australian finished badly with bogeys on 14 and 18.
The 22 year old is being helped by the fact that he knows the course like the back of his hand. He claimed The International Championship at Imperial in 2008 on the ASEAN PGA Tour just months after turning professional.
He earned a cheque for US$8,126 on that occasion but first place this week is worth a juicy US$180,000.
Victory tomorrow would be far away and the biggest achievement by an Indonesian in the game of golf.
Kasiadi, the former caddie from Surabaya, triumphed in the 1989 Indonesia Open, and the country’s top amateurs have a fine record in the Southeast Asian Amateur Team Championship for the Putra Cup but nothing would come close to a Hie victory this week.
“This has been a really special week. The crowds have been fantastic. I am feeling very calm and focusing on breathing exercises between shots. I have prepared really well for this tournament and it has paid off. I am playing aggressive golf and plan to do the same tomorrow,” said Hie, whose father Tommy is caddying for him.
Hie played for the University of Southern California and at one point was ranked sixth best amateur in the world. The talented golfer attended college for two years and then opted to leave prematurely as he felt he was ready for the professional game.
Despite winning in 2008 he found life as a professional very difficult. He was dogged by injuries including problems with right leg and also got an eye irritation. Such problems are now well and truly in the past.
Millar, aged 34, had a two shot lead at the start of the day.
“My game was not too good today. I didn’t have a good rhythm. I was down with a fever and I had a really low energy level. I’m feeling better now but I’m still tired and aching all over. It affected my game.
Hopefully, I will feel better tomorrow. My game plan is to do what I’ve been doing for the past two days, hit more fairways in regulation… and make more putts,” said Millar.
Andre Stolz from Australia and Korean Park Eun-shin are joint third two shots off the lead. They returned rounds of 69 and 66 respectively.
Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, winner of the Indonesia Open in 2005, stormed into contention with a 66 and is four back for Hie.
China’s Liang Wenchong, winner of last year’s OneAsia Order of Merit, carded a 71 and is five adrift of top spot.
Leading third round scores:
(Par 72)
203 – Rory Hie (INA) 68-68-67
204 – Matthew Millar (AUS) 63-70-71
206 – Park Eun-shin (KOR) 69-71-66, Andre Stolz (AUS) 67-70-69
207 – Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 71-70-66
208 – Peter Wilson (AUS) 69-71-68, Chris Campbell (AUS) 67-72-69, Gareth Paddison (NZL) 72-67-69, Paul Sheehan (AUS) 69-69-70, Liang Wenchong (CHN) 70-67-71
209 – Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 72-69-68, Kang Kyung-nam (KOR) 71-68-70
210 – Ted Oh (KOR) 72-69-69, Peter O’Malley (AUS) 73-68-69, Michael Hendry (NZL) 70-70-70, Stephen Leaney (AUS) 70-69-71, Alistair Presnell (AUS) 71-67-72, Wu Ashun (CHN) 69-67-74, Matthew Griffin (AUS) 66-69-75
Selected:
211 – Bae Sang-moon (KOR) 71-69-71
212 - Ilyassyak (INA) 72-71-69
216 - I Nengah Dharma (INA) 73-70-73
217 - Bora Burhan (INA) 69-70-78
220 - Maan Nasim (INA) 69-74-77
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