Jahns presses bid, cards 66 to stay in the mix
MANILA, Philippines — Keanu Jahns shrugged off a tougher afternoon start and an early stumble to fire a 66, moving into a share of sixth halfway through the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament at Damai Indah Golf’s BSD course in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday.
The big-hitting Filipino-German ace quickly regained his rhythm after dropping a stroke on No. 10, where he teed off, and found his groove with a run of birdies, sparked by back-to-back gains from No. 13.
Jahns added another on the 16th before rattling off a stirring four-birdie binge from No. 4 in demanding afternoon conditions. He dropped another stroke on the par-5 eighth but quickly recovered it with a closing birdie, finishing with a 32-34 for a two-day haul of 10-under 134.
That kept him four shots behind new joint leaders Tanapat Pichaikol of Thailand and England’s Matt Killen, as he stayed firmly in the hunt for a strong finish in his rare overseas appearance.
Jahns was the top Filipino finisher at the halfway stage, while veteran Angelo Que also fought his way into the weekend with a clutch 69.
Que, a three-time Asian Tour winner, was sitting on the projected cut line after a birdie-bogey start on the front nine. He then delivered when it mattered most, birdieing Nos. 12 and 13 before closing with another birdie on the par-5 18th for a 36-33 card and a two-day 139.
The late surge moved Que into a share of 29th, although he will have plenty of ground to make up over the final 36 holes, with Pichaikol and Killen setting a blistering pace at 14-under 130.
Pichaikol capitalized on ideal morning conditions, rattling off five birdies on the front nine and three more coming home for a 64. Killen matched the Thai’s eight-under total with six birdies and a bogey-free round.
They hold a two-stroke cushion over American Nathan Han, who vaulted into solo third with a tournament-best 61 after opening with a 71.
Han caught fire early, birdieing five of his first six holes, including a four-birdie burst from No. 3. After three straight pars on the back nine, he added three more birdies over the next five holes before finishing in spectacular fashion with an eagle for a 30-31 split and a 10-under total of 132.
Sean Ramos also battled back from the brink, following his opening 73 with a solid 68 highlighted by two birdies and an eagle on No. 8. His 141 aggregate earned him a share of 43rd with the cut pegged at 142.
Starting on No. 10, Ramos birdied his opening hole but went the next 11 without another gain, repeatedly scrambling his way to pars whenever trouble threatened. He finally broke through with a birdie on the par-5 fourth, then capped his round with an eagle on No. 8 after three straight pars to card a 33-35 and punch his ticket to the final 36 holes.
Aidric Chan, however, could not sustain his challenge after a difficult late start on the back nine. He made two bogeys and a double bogey in his first six holes, against just one birdie, and struggled to recover at the front, limping with a birdie-less 41 for an 80 and a 149 and missing the cut by seven.
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