Ah, the atmosphere at the BNI Indonesian Masters this week is thick with the scent of tenacity as Canadian Richard T. Lee eyes his first Asian Tour victory in nearly a decade.
Striding ahead at Royale Jakarta Golf Club, Lee’s held a vice grip on the lead from the outset, dazzling spectators with a third-round 66 to sit comfortably at 21-under.
Now, six strokes is a cushion you’d like to have, especially after a wobble yesterday that saw him shave his advantage from six strokes to a mere three.
Yet today, Lee was the portrait of calm, bouncing back without a single bogey and peppering his card with six birdies. Lightning and rain paused the game briefly, but didn’t wash away his focus—Lee kept his cool, aided by friendly chatter with local mates during the break.
On the chase, Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig is wielding his putter like a magician’s wand, staying bogey-free and looking sharp enough to challenge Lee, sitting in second after a sterling 65.
Meanwhile, Bubba Watson, that stalwart of the greens, is only a whisper behind, celebrating a brilliant ace with a pitching wedge that didn’t just earn him a roar but, thanks to a pledge by Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, also gifted a house to a needy family—a stroke of generosity Watson matched personally.
While Lee looks to end a dry spell since his last tour win at the 2017 Shinhan Donghae Open, he’s not just up against players.
He’s battling a golf course ready to crown a champion and an impending finale that promises to test his mettle. But if today’s performance is anything to go by, tomorrow could well be the day Richard T. Lee breaks his winless streak.
For more intrigue and updates on this electric tournament, keep your eyes on www.internationalseries.com.
With a mix of seasoned pros and surging challengers, the BNI Indonesian Masters is shaping up to be a finale you wouldn’t want to miss.
