Jaidee surges into lead in Indonesia

Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand fired five birdies on the front nine to move to the top of the leaderboard during the third round of the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open today.

The 39-year-old, who returned to action this week after missing the Johnnie Walker Classic due to illness, began his round on four under, two shots off the lead, after carding a 69 yesterday.

Taking advantage of benign conditions on the front nine at New Kuta Golf Club, the Thai ace birdied the second hole before reeling off three consecutive birdies from the fourth to sixth.

He added another on the ninth to make the turn on nine under, two shots clear of the rest of the field in the US dollars 1.25 million tournament, which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours.

Second round leader Steve Webster was one of three players in a tie for second place after picking up a birdie on the fifth to improve to seven under after eight holes.

He was joined on that mark by Scotland’s Scott Drummond, who was three under for the day through eight holes and Alexander Noren of Sweden, who was five under through 13 after making five birdies on his first 10 holes.

Jyoti Randhawa of India held the clubhouse lead on six under after shooting a six-under-par 66 that included an eagle and six birdies against two bogeys.

Also lying on six under were Denmark’s Jeppe Huldahl and Jamie Donaldson of Wales.