Sungai Buloh, Selangor: Dodge Kemmer edged closer to a first Asian Development Tour (ADT) win after shooting a second round five-under-par 67 in the weather-interrupted PGM CCM Rahman Putra Championship on Thursday.
The American totalled 14-under-par 130 to hold the clubhouse lead, two shots ahead of Japan’s Shunya Takeyasu, who shot a second consecutive 66, in the ADT event which was suspended midway through the round due to lightning threat.
Play was eventually abandoned at 7.15pm due to fading light with a total of 29 players set to return on Friday, 7.30am to complete their rounds at the Kelab Golf Rahman Putra Malaysia.
Jordan Sherratt of Australia fired a 68 for third place, four shots off the place, while Han Jamil of Malaysia and two-time ADT winner Janne Kaske of Finland posted a 67 and 69 respectively to share fourth place on 135s.
Fresh from earning an Asian Tour card from Qualifying School two weeks ago, the 28-year-old Kemmer stayed bogey free as he continued his hot form from his impressive opening round 63.
“It was not as special as yesterday but it was nice to be bogey free. It was steady but still a solid round. I didn’t play in Asia last year because I had surgery (bulging disc in the lower back) early in 2015 and now that I’m back, it seems hotter than I remember,” he laughed.
Without dropping any shots after 36 holes, Kemmer hopes to keep his cool as he chases for a first victory in Asia.
“I came in without expecting a whole lot. Obviously every time you see someone go low, they seem to come come back with an average score. So I didn’t expect much. I’ll just stick to my plan and hit it as close as I can and hopefully the putts drop,” he said.
With the Olympic Games looming this July where golf will be reintroduced as a medal sport, players in the region could earn their spots in Rio de Janeiro by earning Official World Golf Ranking points through the Asian Tour and ADT.
For more information on the ADT, please visit www.asiandevelopmenttour.com.
Leading second round results:
130 - Dodge KEMMER (USA) 63 67
132 - Shunya TAKEYASU (JPN) 66 66
134 - Jordan SHERRATT (AUS) 66 68
135 - Hans JAMIL (MAS) 68 67, Janne KASKE (FIN) 66 69
136 - Danny MASRIN (INA) 68 68, Kemarol BAHARIN (MAS) 67 69, Chanat SAKULPOLPHAISAN (THA) 72 64, George GANDRANATA (INA) 67 69
137 - Sutijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA) 66 71
138 - Nirun SAE-UENG (THA) 70 68, Soonsang HONG (KOR) 68 70, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 70 68, James BYRNE (SCO) 67 71, Johannes VEERMAN (USA) 69 69, Doohwan BANG (KOR) 68 70, Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG) 69 69, Riley FLEMING (CAN) 70 68
