Jakarta (Indonesia), Oct 3 (NationPress) India's Gaganjeet Bhullar is a proven champion in Indonesia, and he showcased his talent with an impressive five-under-par second round of 65 at the Jakarta International Championship, propelling him into T2 on the leaderboard, just one stroke shy of the clubhouse leader, Pavit Tangkamolprasert from Thailand.

Beginning the day by finishing two holes from Round One, Bhullar seamlessly transitioned into Round Two, recording four birdies on his front nine and three more on the back. Despite two bogeys on holes 13 and 15, the Olympian proved why Indonesia has been a successful venue for him.

“This morning, we returned to complete the last two holes from the first round, and I capped it off with a birdie, which set a positive tone for Round Two,” Bhullar mentioned. “The essential factor today was precision - I hit all 14 fairways and 16 greens in regulation, providing numerous birdie opportunities. Although I had two bogeys, overall, it was a very commendable round.”

The 37-year-old golfer is familiar with triumphs in Indonesia. Out of his 11 Asian Tour victories, five have been in Indonesia, including the recent 2023 BNI Indonesian Masters. He also clinched the Indonesia Open at this week's course back in 2013.

“It's wonderful to be back,” he stated. “Returning here evokes many positive memories. Walking past the photos of previous champions and spotting mine there is always inspiring. Indonesia has treated me well, and my aim is to maintain this positivity and continue building on this momentum.”

Bhullar, who has successfully participated in all four International Series events this year, is optimistic about his future prospects.

“My best finish was around 14th place in Morocco, but I felt I was playing much better than the scores reflected. I believe I’ve been performing better than my scores indicate. Sometimes the first half sets the stage for the second half, and I’m eager for a strong series of upcoming events,” Bhullar commented.

England’s Steve Lewton, who triumphed on the same track last year at the Mandiri Indonesia Open, outdid himself with a bogey-free six-under round, moving him up to equal standing with Bhullar. Leading the board, Pavit matched Bhullar’s five-under performance, taking the lead at 11-under-par, powered by his sharp putting.

“My overall game has been solid this week, particularly my putting,” Pavit remarked. “I dedicated a lot of time after last week’s round, and it seems to be yielding results. Once the first putt fell, my confidence soared.” Thai golfer Tanapat Pichaikool also impressed with an outstanding eight-under-par round, advancing to solo fourth place. He began with four consecutive birdies from holes one to four, establishing a confident rhythm.

“It was an excellent round,” Tanapat expressed. “I told myself to play freely and not to focus on other distractions, and the results reflected that.”

With Bhullar positioned within striking distance of the lead, Indian fans are keenly watching as the weekend unfolds at the Jakarta International Championship.