Asep surprisingly takes 1st round lead in JJGF tour

BOGOR (JP): Little-known golfer Asep Suganda made a surprising performance to take the lead at the fifth JJGF Open Golf Championship opener by carding three-under-par 69 at the Jagorawi Golf and Country Club's new course on Thursday.

The tournament, organized by the Japan Jagorawi Golf Foundation (JJGF), is offering Rp 200 million (US$18,350) prize money.

Going out, Asep produced two birdies at par-3 hole 2, par-4 hole 3 and a bogey at par-3 hole 5 for one-under 35. He improved his play returning to the club with three birdies at par-5 hole 10, par-4 hole 14 and par-4 hole 17 but made a bogey at par-5 hole 16 for a two-under 34.

Kasiyadi is closely tailing with two-under-par 70. In the front nine, he carded one-under 35 with a birdie at par-5 hole 1. In the back nine, he produced three birdies at hole 10, 14, and par-5 hole 16, enough to cover two bogeys at par-3 hole 11 and par-4 hole 18.

"I'm quite satisfied with the result and I intend to win the championship," he told The Jakarta Post after the match.

"I always play safely, aiming to land the ball on the fairway. Then I will attack the course more aggressively. It's no use to keep attacking or to always play safely."

Four other golfers - Dana Mahmud, Ilyassak, Putu Dipta and Soewarno K - jointly finished third producing one-over-par 73.

Although Dipta made a hole-in-one at hole 11 and a birdie at hole 10, he carded four bogeys at par-3 hole 5, par-4 hole 6, par-4 hole 12 and par-3 hole 15.

Ilyassak was satisfied with his aggressive play although he was punished with a one-stroke penalty when he drove an out-of- bound on par-4 of the sixth.

He finished the first nine with one-over-par with two birdies at hole 1 and par-5 hole 8. He improved his form when returning home with an even par after birdiing the 10th and made a bogey at the 12th.

Indonesia's top golfer Maan Nasim managed to produce three- over-par 75 although he was still recovering from a bout of typhoid.

Among amateurs, Iin Setiawan, Nasin and Suyanto shared the lead with four-over-par 76. They are being groomed for the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games in September with six other golfers.

The organizers had to disqualify Sahid of Surabaya because he wrongly entered his score. (nvn)

Results (Indonesian unless noted): 69 - Asep Suganda 70 - Kasiyadi 73 - Soewarno K., Putu Dipta, Dana Mahmud, Ilyassak 74- Gemmy Subagyo, Jamel Ondo, Sanusi, Daisuke Tsuchiyama (Jpn), Sumarno, M. Suzuki (Jpn), Shinji Hori (Jpn), Asep Caprie, Stephen Atako-Lindskog (Swe) 75 - Tatsuya Kihara (Jpn), Ronald S. Singh, Gimin Suwiryo, S. Murthy (Mal), Bonin Banuwijaya, Maan Nasim, Danny Chia (Mal)