Matheos Viktor Messakh, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
Thai stalwart Prom Meesawat and Korean rookie Hur In-hoi share the opening round lead at the inaugural Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational after firing seven-under-par 65 on Thursday.
Meesawat, ranked 25th on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit, fired eight birdies against a lone dropped shot on the 14th hole at the Damai Indah Golf-BSD course in Tangerang, west of Jakarta.
Hur enjoyed a bogey-free round to join the Thai at the top of the leaderboard of the US$350,000 tournament.
Filipino youngster Juvic Pagunsan and Indian Harmeet Kahlon trail one shot behind.
European Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood sits at five-under-par 67, along with Korea's Mo Joong-kyung.
Making his 12th appearance on the Asian Tour this year, Meesawat, nicknamed ""Big Dolphin"", was pleased with his round after having struggled with his putting over the past two weeks.
""I am happy to find consistency in my putting today and pleased to lead. I hope to enjoy another solid putting day tomorrow,"" said Meesawat, who has one Asian Tour title under his belt.
The 23-year-old, who started his round on the 10th hole, was one under after his first nine holes, but fired six birdies on his way home to climb to the top of the rain-interrupted event. Play was suspended for about two hours as a result of the weather.
""It was more of a mental thing with my putting recently where I struggled to deliver a good round, but I told myself to put my head down and not to worry if I don't make any birdies, and it paid off. I was relaxed and even shot three birdies in a row on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes,"" said the Thai.
Hur is enjoying his first year on the Asian Tour, having already produced two top-10 finishes. The 20-year-old, who turned pro last year, shot seven birdies Thursday, taking advantage of the wide fairways at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course.
""I wasn't driving too well in India but I've learned a lot and have adopted a stronger mental game so I am eager to stay at the top this time,"" he said.
Westwood -- with a solid track record in Asia having won in Japan, Macau and Malaysia -- blasted four birdies in the last five holes and was pleased to have continued his good run of form.
""It took me a while to adjust with the greens here but I finished off strongly. I struck a few scrappy shots in the opening stages but I held my game well to the end. The most challenging bit about this course is finding the fairways but I had a decent start overall and I'm pleased to be where I am now,"" the Englishman said.
Indonesian amateur Benny Kasiadi and professional Ilyasak were among a group of five players at four-under-par 68, together with Malaysian Airil Rizman, 2007 Pakistan Open winner Hsu Mong-nan of Chinese Taipei and Briton Simon Griffith.
Kasiadi fired five birdies and one bogey, while national No. 3 Ilyasyak, who is making his fourth start on the Asian Tour, was in an upbeat mood after rolling in five birdies against a lone bogey on the 16th.
""I don't know why I suddenly felt afraid and nervous on hole six. I had a similar feeling on hole eight. Luckily I was able to safely par those two holes, and I think that was the best for me,"" said Ilyasyak.
The 42-year-old is the only Indonesian listed in the UBS Order of Merit, after making the cut at the Motorola Bintan Open and the Brunei Open a few months ago.
Of 30 national golfers taking part in the President Invitational, only eight -- Ilyasyak, Andik Mauludin, Jamel Ondo, Denny Supriardi, Junaidi Ibrahim, Asep Supriatna, Dana Mahmud and amateur Benny Kasiadi -- have a reasonable chance to make the cut.
