Michelle in share for clubhouse lead in Jakarta

Michelle Koh © LAGT

Jakarta: Malaysian amateur Michelle Koh and South African Connie Chen took the clubhouse lead at the Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesian Open as lightning stopped the second round play on Friday.

Koh fired an impressive second round four-under-par 68 while Chen carded a 69 at Palm Hill Golf Club. They lead the Ladies Asian Golf Tour event on one-under-par 143 although three players on the course top the leaderboard.

Overnight leader Smriti Mehra of India and another Malaysian amateur Kelly Tan are three-under for the tournament after 12 holes while Thailand’s Patcharachuta Kongkapan, playing in the same group, is two under.

The 22-year-old Koh graduated from Campbell University in North Carolina in May and intends to spend a year working hard on her game before deciding whether to turn professional. After a strong round made up of five birdies and a bogey it looks as if she is on course for a promising career.

“I didn’t expect to play so well today. I was just focusing on swinging the club well. I have been working really hard with my dad so it’s great it has paid off,” said Koh.

Chen, who turns 20 next week, was ranked the number one amateur in South Africa when she turned professional in 2010. Last year was his first full season on the Ladies European Tour. She birdied three out of the last five holes to catch Koh and give herself a great chance of claiming her maiden professional title.

Play will resume at 7am tomorrow with veteran Mehra hoping to maintain her consistent play. “I am level par for my round today so I am playing comfortably but it is frustrating to have to stop. It is nice to be leading though and tomorrow should be an exciting day,” said the 40-year-old.

Tan meanwhile said she hopes to maintain her form. “It’s a pity the bad weather set in early today, otherwise I was really enjoying out there playing alongside Simi (Mehra) and Kongkrapan,” said the 19-year-old.