Australian Aaron Wilkin sensationally broke Frank Nobilo’s 30-year course record at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course today to take the first-round lead in the US$500,000 Mandiri Indonesia Open.
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His blemish-free 10-under-par 61, one better than New Zealander Nobilo’s – which he carded at this event in 1994 – was made up of 10 birdies and gave him a three-shot lead over Australian Andrew Dodt, in with a 64.
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Rookie professional Sampson Zheng from China is next best placed after a 65, along with Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai.
Wilkin, a graduate from last year’s Asian Development Tour, where he won the BRG Open Golf Championship – which is actually being played this week in Vietnam – started on 10 and had a stunning run of holes making five birdies in his last six on the back nine, including three in a row from 13.
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“Not much went wrong today,” said the 31-year-old, whose other big career win came at the 2022 Queensland PGA Championship.
“It was one of those days. I hit it close on four or five holes. I had a couple of easy tap ins, then holed a few nice putts and didn’t make any mistakes. Yeah, I will take that for sure. There was some lucky stuff today, which I am going to take and run with it.”
Dodt is a three-time champion on the Asian Tour, his most recent the Sarawak Championship in 2019, but his game has been out of sorts of late, so today’s round gave him a huge lift.
Commented the Australian: “It was pretty good, better than what it has been. I feel like I have found something in my swing last week. I have really struggled with my swing last 12 months. Hopefully I have turned the corner with that. Had some luck. Hit some good shots. Hit some bad shots.”
He had an eagle, six birdies and dropped one shot. His eagle came on the par five 17th where his second shot with a three-wood landed just short of the green from where he holed out from five metres.
“I missed the green on the par-three seventh. It was a pretty ordinary lie, and I used a rescue club from off the green and it went in. That was a bonus,” he added.
Zheng’s fine round was just reward for arriving early to practice for the event.
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Aged 23 and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, he has been quick to impress this year. He tied for fourth in the International Series England three weeks ago and made light work of the course today with eight birdies and two bogeys.
“It was good. I did what I wanted to do for the best part. I kept my ball under control and made a few putts,” said Zheng, who was runner-up at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Royal Melbourne last year, losing in a play-off to Australian Jasper Stubbs.
“It is my first time Indonesia. It’s hot, it’s humid. It’s very different from England, where we played last.
“I got here Friday night, a bit earlier than everyone else. Practiced on the range at the weekend, just getting used to the weather.”
This is only his fourth start on the Asian Tour. He was still an amateur for his first two appearances.
Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, Danthai Boonma, Poosit Supupramai and Suradit Yongcharoenchai, Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun plus Denzel Ieremia from New Zealand returned 66s.
Thailand’s Panuphol ‘Coconut’ Pittayarat, the winner of this event in 2017, at a different venue, plus Steve Lewton from England, joint runner-up last year, are in a group on 67.
Defending champion Nitithorn Thippong from Thailand shot a 69.
Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, the record three time winner of this event, needs to make up ground after a 73.
