Malaysian Ismail takes Epson Cup<\/p>\n
Mustofid, The Jakarta Post, Bogor, West Java<\/p>\n
Malaysian Rashid Ismail defied a call for the Nations Cup,
\nwhich was held at the Selangor Royal Golf Club, to travel to
\nIndonesia. It provided dividends as he won the Rp 370 million
\n(US$38,900) Epson Cup at the Jagorawi Golf & Country Club here on
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
At the Old Course of Jagorawi, Ismail suffered an early scare
\nbefore regaining composure to cruise to victory.<\/p>\n
Going into the final game with a two-stroke lead over local
\nhopeful Maan Nasim, Ismail faltered at the start with a bogey on
\nthe first and second holes.<\/p>\n
However, the 28-year-old was back in form in the next stages
\nto return to the clubhouse with an even par for a total of three-
\nunder-par 285. Maan also ended the day with an even par for a
\none-under-par 287 to settle for second place.<\/p>\n
Stephen Atako-Lindskog fired the day's best score with a four-
\nunder-par 68 but the Jakarta-based Swede had to be content with
\nthe third position with an overall three-over 291.<\/p>\n
\"I was a bit shaky because I felt the pressure from becoming
\nthe winner,\" Ismail told reporters after he slotted the scorecard
\ninto the box.<\/p>\n
\"But then I tried to tone down my emotion. (I said to myself)
\nLoosen up! Don't be too preoccupied with having to win. Play the
\ngame as usual. Wait until the last hole,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ismail, who admitted he had never won a tournament on his own
\nturf since turning pro in 1997, is currently ranked second behind
\nDanny Chia, who led Malaysia to victory in Selangor.<\/p>\n
\"I had an argument over the playing site. I don't like the
\nground,\" Ismail told The Jakarta Post after the official
\npresentation of prizes.<\/p>\n
The Nations Cup, which ended on Sunday, saw Norway, Mexico,
\nthe Philippines, Holland and Malaysia qualify for the World Cup
\nin Japan in November where they will compete against the likes of
\nTiger Wood.<\/p>\n
With his countrymen succeeding in their attempt, Ismail found
\nthe victory here a consolation.<\/p>\n
Following his early cracks, Ismail was caught up by Maan with
\nthe score level at one-under until the former made amends with
\nbirdies in the last two holes of the front nine to regain his
\ntwo-stroke lead.<\/p>\n
Both players simply looked content with a relatively safe game
\nin the back nine, during which Ismail demonstrated more
\nconsistent play than Maan with all pars.<\/p>\n
Maan seemed to be riding a rollercoaster, flirting with bogeys
\nand birdies between holes 11 and 12 and between 14 and 15.<\/p>\n
Maan said he was disappointed that he finished only second.
\nBut what he rued most was his third round's poor run on Saturday
\nwhen he played four over par.<\/p>\n
\"Today was not too bad for me. I fancied playing a safe game.
\nThe third day was so hot my game was extremely affected,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Despite finishing a distant third, Atakao-Lindskog deserved to
\ncelebrate his own achievement after he had scored a 68, making
\nhim the only player to end the day with an under-par score.<\/p>\n
It was also his only under-par score, following his poor
\nperformance in the previous rounds.<\/p>\n
\"I was still looking for a rhythm. It is merely a flash of
\ndistinction between playing well and bad. Today, I could not only
\nfind the rhythm but smooth anticipation throughout the game,\"
\nsaid Atako-Lindskog, who has stayed in Indonesia for six years.<\/p>",
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