American golfers share Bali lead

American golfers share Bali lead

JAKARTA (JP): Americans Brandt Jobe and Eric Meeks shot a brilliant six-under par-66 to share the lead in the first round of the Sempati Bali Open golf championship, which opened at the Bali Golf and Country Club yesterday.

Jobe shot six birdies at the 4th, 7th, 11th, 13th, 14th and 15th while Meeks, who started 30 minutes after Jobe, birdied the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 12th and 14th. Meeks struck a deficit shot, however, at the par-4 16th before gaining his composure and a birdie at the 18th.

Seven golfers were tied for second place each with 5-under 67. They were Felix Casas of the Philippines, Daniel Chopra (Swe), Jerry Smith (USA), Jose Contero (Arg), Australians Glen Joyner and Anthony Painter and Singapore's Mardan Mamat. Contero was the champion at the Sampoerna Indonesia Open.

Stephen Leaney of Australia, invited to play by the sponsor of the US$250,000 event, Sempati Air, was at the 12th with a 68.

Leany, who was ranked 40th at the 1992 Australian Order of Merit, finished poorly at the just concluded Sampoerna Indonesia Open at Pantai Indah Kapuk with a two-over par 290, said he would better his score in Bali.

"The Bali G&C course is a bit easier than that of Kapuk Indah. Golfers have less difficulty at the Bali G and C," Leany said.

However, its was an unknown Malaysian, V. Nellan, who stole the show when he struck a lucky shot for hole-in-one at the 160 meter par-3 12th, which was worth Rp12.5 million (US$6,000) (rsl).