Calcavecchia and Parry test course at Satelindo Open<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): American Mark Calcavecchia and top Australian
\ngolfer Craig Parry are raring to go at the US$275,000 Satelindo
\nIndonesia Open Golf Championships which tees off this morning at
\nthe par 72 Jagorawi course, halfway between here and Bogor.<\/p>\n
Calcavecchia, a former British Open champion, will make his
\nSoutheast Asian debut in the tournament, the fifth leg of the 25-
\nleg 1997 Omega Tour. Tiger Woods won the first leg, the Asian
\nHonda Classic, in Bangkok.<\/p>\n
Calcavecchia said yesterday, "It is certainly not an easy golf
\nlayout.<\/p>\n
"The course has so many hazards and out of bounds I think you
\nwill see a lot of high scores here this week."<\/p>\n
Calcavecchia, a seven-time winner of the U.S. PGA tour and
\nwinner of the 1989 British Open, is seeking his first tournament
\nwin since the 1995 Bell South Classic on the U.S. PGA tour.<\/p>\n
"You have to play well on this course, otherwise you are
\ndead," he said of the new 6,322-meter course designed by Peter
\nThomspson and Michael Wolveridge.<\/p>\n
Calcavecchia said that high humidity made the tropical
\ntemperatures even harder for players -- a sentiment not shared by
\nAustralian Craig Parry.<\/p>\n
"I have played in Indonesia quite a lot in the past and
\nactually find the temperature quite cool at the moment," Parry
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"It is hard to keep your temper cool on the course however...
\nI lost about six balls today, you have to play carefully and
\ndefensively here."<\/p>\n
The Satelindo Indonesia Open has a 136 man lineup.<\/p>\n
Past winners entered this year include New Zealander Frank
\nNobilo who won the Open in 1994 at Pantai Indah Kapuk, North
\nJakarta, and American Payne Stewart who won in 1986. In 1989, the
\nSurabaya-born Kasiyadi became the first local player to win the
\nOpen at the Jakarta Golf Club in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"I'll do my best to try my luck again this time, though I
\nunderstand it will be very hard," the 34-year-old Kasiyadi said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Kasiyadi and Maan Naasim from Sawangan Golf Club are among 10
\npro golfers representing Indonesia in the annual tournament,
\nwhich began in 1974.<\/p>\n
Jagorawi's New Course, which opened in 1991, is long and even.
\nBut, although the fairways seem wider than the Old Course's, they
\nare narrow in the landing zones and have well placed, deep faced
\nfairway bunkers which await their victims.<\/p>\n
"The New Course has quickly gained a reputation as one of the
\nmost difficult tests of golf in Southeast Asia," Jagorawi golf
\ncourse chairman Zakir said.<\/p>\n
The New Course is also home to the renowned 11th, 12th and
\n13th holes which are nicknamed "the devil's corner".<\/p>\n
"These three holes have ruined many great rounds and will
\nprovide an exciting final nine for the championships," Zakir
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
New clubs<\/p>\n
Yesterday was a lucky day for some professional golfers when
\nthey received free drivers which they are expected to test on the
\nOmega Tour.<\/p>\n
The ProGear clubs were designed after 10 years of research.
\nThey were first produced in 1993.<\/p>\n
Cory Pavin of the U.S. was among the world-rated golfers who
\nused ProGear in 1995 when he won the U.S. Open.<\/p>\n
ProGear spokesman Avie Utomo said, "The clubs made of silver
\ntitanum are for pros as well as amateurs with low handicaps."<\/p>\n
They are available in black titanium with a smaller head and
\nin red titanium for senior players.<\/p>\n
The clubs, which cost Rp 1.3 million each, are sold at
\nJakarta's leading golf shops. (rsl)<\/p>",
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