Staff WriterScott Vincent is back on the boil. The Zimbabwean produced a flawless eight-under-par 62 to surge into a share of the third-round lead at the Jakarta International Championship, positioning himself perfectly for a Sunday showdown that promises fireworks at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course.
Vincent, who has already finished first and tied second in his last two Asian Tour starts, now sits on 11-under alongside India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Australia’s Wade Ormsby.
It’s been a season of consistency and class from the 33-year-old, who’s climbed to second on both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings.
Ormsby briefly looked like he’d steal a march on the field until the rules gods intervened. After signing for a 67, officials handed him a one-shot penalty for a ball that shifted when he addressed it on the fourth hole. That little nudge dropped him back into a three-way tie at the top.
Bhullar carded a 69, his round derailed by a double-bogey six on the ninth. To his credit, the six-time Asian Tour winner in Indonesia clawed his way back into the hunt with birdies at 12 and 13 and a spotless back nine.
Lurking ominously one shot back are Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, who carded a sizzling 64, and compatriot Poom Saksansin after a 66. Overnight leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert stumbled to a 72, dropping into a tie for sixth at nine-under with Italy’s Stefano Mazzoli (66) and England’s Steve Lewton (71).
LIV Golf Return in Sight
This week’s US$2 million Jakarta International Championship is part of The International Series, the elite Asian Tour events that act as a springboard to the LIV Golf League.
Vincent knows the route well—he topped The International Series Rankings in 2022 to earn his LIV spot, and another strong finish here could pave the way for a return.
“It was amazing, what a blessing,” said Vincent, who rattled in eight birdies, including three in a row from the first and another hat-trick starting at the 12th.
“Man, you know, when you have a picture of what you’re trying to do, today I was able to execute that more times than I have the whole week. So, it’s always fun when you can see the picture and pull it off. I was able to do that a few more times today.”
Vincent’s form has been electric in recent months. He lifted the International Series Morocco title in July and was runner-up at last month’s Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea. Asked to explain the hot streak, his answer was refreshingly honest.
“Oh man, good question. I don’t know. We have spoken about this a bit, and it’s like, what? What is it, what are you doing? I’m just running my process, just trying to do the things that I think are going to help.
And it’s like, that’s what I did last year, and it was not a great year. But this year, for some reason, it seems to be clicking a little bit. And that’s all I draw it down to, it’s such a gift, and I’m just grateful for how it has been going so far.”
A Final Round Set for Drama
With the leaderboard stacked and the wind forecast to pick up, the Jakarta International Championship is perfectly poised for a dramatic finish. Sadom, the Kolon Korea Open champion, fancies his chances.
“I feel I played pretty solid,” he said. “I played in the morning, the second group, so it was lucky to play without wind. On the last four or five holes it was very windy, so I think it was going to be tough.
“My game is getting better than the first half of the year. I’m trying to practice harder and do everything harder, and it’s getting better. So I think my feeling is very good this week too.”
Japan’s Kazuki Higa, chasing an unprecedented third consecutive Asian Tour win, shot a 67 to sit four shots back. Stranger things have happened on Sundays in Asia.
The stage is set. Vincent is chasing a return to golf’s most lucrative league. Bhullar is chasing history. Ormsby is chasing redemption.
And the rest of the chasing pack smell blood. One thing’s certain: Jakarta’s final round won’t be dull.
