Gandranata fired a flawless round highlighted by five birdies for a two-shot advantage over Japanese Mitsuhiko Hashizume and Australian Jack Munro, who signed for matching 68s to tie on second place at the Jababeka Golf and Country Club.
©Asian Development Tour
England’s Grant Jackson, who is fighting to get into top four on the ADT Order of Merit to earn his 2014 Asian Tour card, shot a 69 to share fourth place with Thailand Pavit Tangkamolprasert at the US$60,000 Asian Development Tour (ADT) event, which is the season finale for the 2013 ADT schedule.
Local hopefuls Rory Hie, Andik Mauludin and IIyasyak were a further shot back to share sixth place with Man O Im of the United States, who fired a magical hole-in-one on the par-three sixth hole.
Gandranata, a regular on the ADT since turning professional in 2012, credited his growing experience for helping him shoot into the lead. “I managed to hit a lot of greens. The course is quite long for me and it can be quite tough to make good judgements out there but I am glad I got help from a senior caddy. I’m sticking to the same plan for the next three days. Hopefully I can score as well,” said the 27-year-old who is aiming for a maiden win on the ADT.
“Playing on the ADT has really helped my game. It has given me a lot of experience playing with the professionals out here. I think I will still play on the ADT even if I earn my Asian Tour card through the Qualifying School next month. The competition is really good here and it gives you the opportunity to hone your game,” added Gandranata.
Hashizume hopes to end his 2013 season on a high note as he sets his eyes on a second win on the ADT. “It was a lucky day for me as I made a lot of long putts. I haven’t been playing well after winning on the ADT last year but I am starting to pick up on my game again. Hopefully I can shoot a lower score tomorrow,” said the Japanese, who claimed his maiden win in Malaysia.
Munro kept his hopes high for a maiden win on the ADT as he got off to a good start. “I hit the ball good. I think the course suits my game a lot. It’s long and the greens are softer, maybe because of the rain earlier. Hopefully I can hole more putts tomorrow and make it to the weekend rounds,” said the 26-year-old Australian.
Jackson needs nothing less than a victory at the Jababeka course to stand a chance of overhauling fourth placed Lindsay Renolds of Canada and earn his Asian Tour card.
“The course is really long. The rain delay didn’t help but overall, I’m pleased with my round. I tried not to put pressure on myself. I think it’s all parts and parcel of the game. I’ve been in this position before so I just want to do my best and we will how it goes,” said Jackson, who is currently fifth on the ADT Order of Merit.
With current number one Nicholas Fung of Malaysia having already secured his Asian Tour card through the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit, the next best three players on the ADT rankings will be ‘promoted’ after this week’s final tournament.
The winner of the Linc Group Jakarta Invitational will take home a prize purse of US$10,500 and receive six Official World Golf Ranking points. The top six players and ties will also earn points based on a sliding scale.
Leading first round scores (A denotes amateur):
66 - George GANDRANATA (INA)
68 - Mitsuhiko HASHIZUME (JPN), Jack MUNRO (AUS)
69 - Grant JACKSON (ENG), Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA)
70 - Rory HIE (INA), Andik MAULUDIN (INA), Ilyasyak (INA), Man O IM (USA)
Selected:
72 - Jordan IRAWAN (A) (INA), Ian ANDREW (INA), Junaidi IBRAHIM (INA)
73 - Bramantyo ADI (INA), Denny A. WIJAYA (INA), Ade SEBUL (INA)
74 - Danny MASRIN (A) (USA), Hardjito (INA)
75 - Benny KASIADI (INA), William SJAICHUDIN (INA), Ramadhan ALWIE (INA)
76 - Akmin (A) (INA), Kurnia Herisiandy SANTOSO (INA), Jamel ONDO (INA)
77 - S SANUSI (INA), Asep SAEFULLOH (INA), Kevin C. AKBAR (A) (INA), Sarmilih (INA)
78 - Nicholas SMITS (A) (NED), Rudianto R (INA), Rinaldi ADIYANDONO (INA), Asep CAPRIE (INA)
80 - Zulharmen TABUSALLA (INA), Sujarwo S (INA), Dede IDRIS (INA)
82 - Denni HERMAWAN (INA), Warno (INA), Andi Atmo (INA), CHOI Won-jun (A) (INA)
83 - Hendri SUCIPTO (INA), Pudio (INA), Randy Mawuntu (INA)
84 - Wisnu INDRAJAYA (INA)
86 - Sahabudin (INA)
87 - Dana (A) (INA)
90 - Joko (INA)
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