Jazz within striking distance in Indonesia

Black Mountain sponsored players Jazz Janewattananond and Berry Henson of the United States got off to solid starts in the opening round of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters on Thursday.

The young Thai fired a four-under-par 68 to trail first day leaders Nicholas Fung and Anthony Kang by one shot while Henson carded a 70 in the US$750,000 Asian Tour event.

Jazz, who finished tied sixth at the Indonesia Open in 2013 said, “This is the first time I’m playing three events in a row and mentally I’m all charged up even though I’m still feeling a little tired. Things really went very well for me and I couldn’t ask for more.

“I drove the ball well and managed to hole some long putts which is always nice. I just want to continue doing the things that I did today and hopefully I can have a good result to show for this week.”

Henson, who is aiming for a second Asian Tour win this week, was delighted with his return to form after missing the cuts in his last two events.

“I’ll take my two-under anytime. My caddie and I have been trying to build some momentum as I haven’t been playing my best. My game’s not as sharp as I’m not hitting the ball way I want and I’m not putting the way I want it to be.

“We are just trying to take each round as it comes, build on it and keep working on the right things and eventually it will start to click again. Golf will be a lot easier than it has been,” said the American.