Date: February 28, 2009
Author: Sportal and PA Sport

Jaidee leads, Fraser 13th

Thailand&aposs Thongchai Jaidee birdied his final hole for a five-under 67 to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open. Marcus Fraser is the best of the Australian contingent in a tie for 13th place, five shots off the lead. Gavin Flint and Tony Carolan are also an outside chance of victory, a further stroke back. Thongchai made an impressive start in the third round with five birdies on the front nine at New Kuta Golf Club as he moved to the top of the leaderboard in the tournament, which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours. He dropped a shot at the 16th but rolled in a long birdie on the 18th to edge ahead of Alexander Noren of Sweden, who fired a bogey-free 66. Scott Drummond briefly held the lead after Thongchai&aposs troubles on the 16th but the Scot bogeyed his last two holes for a round of 69 which dropped him into a tie for third on seven under with Jeppe Huldahl of Denmark (70) and the English quartet of Ross McGowan (69), Richard Bland (66), Simon Dyson (70) and Simon Griffiths (69). Overnight leader Steve Webster carded a level-par 72 to join India&aposs Jyoti Randhawa (66) and Jamie Donaldson of Wales on six under. Thongchai, who returned to action this week after missing the Johnnie Walker Classic due to illness, began his round on four under but took advantage of benign conditions on the front nine to go out in 31. The 39-year-old rolled home a 12-footer on the second and reeled off consecutive birdies from the fourth to sixth before making another on the ninth to make the turn on nine under, two shots clear of the rest of the field. He maintained his advantage by parring the first five holes on the blustery back nine but his luck finally ran out when his approach shot on the 16th rolled off the green and he missed his par putt from eight feet. However, the Thai recovered to roll home a 14-foot birdie on the ladt to regain the lead. Noren powered his way up the leaderboard after a flawless 66 which included four birdies on the front nine and two on the back. Drummond appeared set for at least a share of the lead after consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th put him into the lead on nine under. But the 34-year-old, who is seeking his first win since the 2004 Volvo PGA Championship, dropped shots at the last two holes to slip back to seven under.