JAKARTA, March 2: Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee struck an impressive six-under-par 66 to take the joint first-round lead in the one million dollar Indonesia Open on Thursday.

Thongchai, who finished second in Malaysia two weeks ago, is tied alongside Chinese Taipeis veteran Wang Ter-chang, Englishman Simon Dyson and David Higgins of Ireland at the Emeralda Golf Club.

Andrew Buckle of Australia enjoyed a superb start with a 67 for tied fifth place and was joined by compatriot Brad Kennedy, Korean American Anthony Kang and Sweden’s Steven Jessepen.

China’s Liang Wen-chong and Thailand’s Thammanoon Srirot carded 68s while Indias Rahil Ganjee battled a sprained right wrist for a 69 in the event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

The second place finish in the Malaysian Open prevented Thongchai from a historic treble of wins but the 37-year-old Thai is showing that he is determined to make up for that loss.

Thongchai, a two-time Asian Tour number one and currently third on the UBS Order of Merit, is also bidding for a ticket to the US Masters next month and a strong finish in Indonesia will strengthen his chances.

Leading first round scores

66 - David Higgins, Wang Ter-Chang, Thongchai Jaidee, Simon Dyson

67 - Anthony Kang, Andrew Buckle, Brad Kennedy, Steven Jeppesen

68 - Wilhelm Schauman, Thammanoon Srirot, Liang Wen-Chong, Unho Park

69 - Wade Ormsby, Chinarat Phadungsil, David Griffiths, Stephen Dodd, Philip Golding, Rahil Gangjee), David Carter, Anders Hansen, Damien Mcgrane, Anthony Brown,

70 - Scott Barr, Gary Rusnak, Jose Manuel Lara, Robert Rock, Benn Barham, David Dixon, Leif Westerberg, Alexandre Rocha, Miguel Carballo, Keith Horne, Jarmo Sandelin, Sam Little, Angelo Que.—AFP