From Asian Tour
MJ Viljoen, a rookie on the Asian Tour having successfully negotiated the Qualifying School in January, took the surprise second-round lead in the Mandiri Indonesia Open today after an eye-catching 10-under-par 62.
The South African, playing in his fourth Asian Tour event, made an eagle and eight birdies to go to 14 under for the US$500,000 event, and a one-shot lead over Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, who carded a 65.
Canadian Richard T. Lee fired a 66, here at Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, and is a shot further back.
“I think I was in a zone today you know. I didn’t really think I was gonna go that low,” said Viljoen, who started on 10 and playing in the last group out made it a thrilling last-minute run to the line with an eagle on the par-five sixth and birdies on eight and nine.
“I think that was my personal best today, by one, so it just kind of happened. I was doing my thing and when I got off the course it was plenty of birdies!”
“I think I was just focused on doing my thing and following my process. So, you know, kind of lost count [of the birdies] and just did my thing, and you know, it was a good day.”
As preferred lies were being played his round could not officially count among the lowest scores on the course.
The 27-year-old is a two-time winner in South Africa and turned professional in 2014.
Ian Snyman carded a second-round five-under 67 to move to four-under through 36 holes and a share of 37th. Jaco Ahlers was on three-under after a 70 and in a share of 46th.
