Parin and Quinn on Course for Victories

Jakarta, Indonesia: Parin Sarasmut has stepped up his bid for a second Mandiri Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior World Championship title while Jennifer Quinn Effendi maintained her challenge for a famous home triumph.

Playing with panache, 17-year-old Thai Parin toured the Damai Indah Golf, PIK Course in a bogey-free seven-under-par 65. In so doing he overturned a two-stroke overnight deficit to Warut Boonrod and will take a five-shot advantage over his compatriot into Friday’s final round in the Boys’ Division.

Meanwhile, 13-year-old Indonesian Quinn showed tremendous poise in carding a one-under 71 to maintain top spot in the Girls’ Division.

With a two-day total of seven-under 137 she is one shot in front of Thailand’s Kanyarak Pongpithanon. Also in the thick of the action are Thai Marisa Tojai (139), Korean An Yun-ju (140) and New Zealand’s Sarah Simei Li and Korean Jeon Yu-hyun (both 141). An and Li both carded 68s, the best score of the day among the Girls.

Despite the comfortable cushion he enjoys, Parin, who won this event in 2023 on the back of a stunning opening-round 10-under 62, is taking nothing for granted.

“Today I played very well. My wedges and approaches were better than yesterday and my putting was good,” said Parin who holed a 40-footer for an eagle-three at the 13th.

“I had a good feeling that I might do well again, but as you can see the course is getting tougher, the greens getting firmer and the wind picking up on the back nine.

“Tomorrow, I’ll just try to do my best. I’ll start with a plan but won’t think about the score.”

In the Girls' Division, Quinn bettered par for the second day in a row, but admitted her putting was not as sharp as on day one.

“The wind was stronger, the greens were harder and there were some difficult pin positions,” she said.

For the second day running, Tojai, chasing a third successive win, ran into difficulties late in her round.

Four-under and near faultless through the first eight holes, Tojai dropped her first shot of the day at the ninth. On Wednesday, Tojai had her only blemish on the ninth, taking a double-bogey six on what was her last hole of the opening round.

Although birdies at 10 and 13 took her to five-under with five holes of the second round remaining, Tojai again stumbled towards the end of her round with bogeys at 14, 15 and 17 meaning she signed for 70.

She said: “I didn’t play that well and had many troubles on the back nine. In the final round, I’ll just try and play each shot the best that I can and whatever the result, I’ll accept it.”