Australian Adam Blyth fired a new course record of seven-under-par 65 to join American Mike Cunning at the top of the leaderboard midway through the Motorola International Bintan. The 25-year-old Blyth, chasing his maiden title on the Asian Tour, enjoyed a flawless round at the Ria Bintan Golf Club as he sank five birdies and an eagle to better the day-old record set by Cunning and New Zealand&aposs Mark Brown. Cunning, who turns 49 this year, laboured to a 69 to retain his overnight lead in the event. The American, winner of Asia&aposs Order of Merit in 1997 and struggling with the flu this week, sank an eagle at the par five 16 for the second straight day and then tied Blyth with a 20-foot birdie at the signature par three 18th hole. Korean Ted Oh carded a 69 to take a share of third place with Australian Scott Strange, who shot a 67. A further stroke back was Thailand&aposs Thaworn Wiratchant, who also carded a 67, Australians Peter Fowler (69) and Scott Hend (68), Canadian Rick Gibson (69) and New Zealand&aposs Mark Brown (71). Blyth, playing in his third season in the region, said: “This is my career best round. It was kind of a weird round. When I started, I was feeling tired. I then said to myself to wake up and let&aposs start playing golf. “I cruised in a couple of under on the front nine and then I holed an eagle on 16 and sank a monster putt from 35 feet on 17. Suddenly, I&aposm seven under.” Aussies Lucas Parsons (67) and Brad Kennedy (68) along with New Zealand&aposs Gareth Pattison (68) are tied at six under while David Gleeson (68) and Unho Park (68) are a further shot back. Motorola International Bintan -9: Adam Blyth (AUS) 70 65, Mike Cunning (USA) 66 69 -8 Ted Oh (KOR) 67 69, Scott Strange (AUS) 69 67 -7: Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 70 67, Peter Fowler (AUS) 68 69, Rick Gibson (CAN) 68 69, Scott Hend (AUS) 69 68, Mark Brown (NZL) 66 71, Others: -6: Lucas Parsons (AUS) 71 67, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 70 68, Gareth Paddison (NZL) 70 68. -5: David Gleeson (AUS) 71 68, Unho Park (AUS) 71 68. -4: Adam Bland (AUS) 72 68, Scott Barr (AUS) 71 69. -3: Leigh McKechnie (AUS) 72 69. -2: Jarrod Mosely (AUS) 74 68, David Diaz (AUS) 69 73, Cameron Percy (AUS) 69 73 -1: Stephen Jeffress (AUS) 71 72, Ashley Hall (AUS) 76 67, Peter Senior (AUS) 72 71 1: Stephen Scahill (AUS) 74 71, Gavin Flint (AUS) 75 70, Chris Campbell (AUS) 70 76. 2: Kurt Barnes (AUS) 72 74, Adam Le Vesconte (AUS) 77 69. 3: Marcus Both (AUS) 71 76, Mitchell Brown (AUS) 70 77, Gary Simpson (AUS) 72 75, Henry Epstein (AUS) 75 72. 4: Troy Kennedy (AUS) 78 70. 6: Shane Baxter (AUS) 74 76, Neven Basic (AUS) 75 75 7: Lee Won-joon (AUS) 77 74, 8: Brad Iles (AUS) 77 75 9: Andrew Pitt (AUS) 79 74 11: Rowan Beste (AUS) 75 80 Richard Moir (AUS) withdrew.
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