Asian PGA Tour makes RI debut

JAKARTA (JP): The PGA Tour, in cooperation with the Asian PGA Omega Tour, will make its Indonesian debut when the Tugu Pratama Championship tees off next week at the Bumi Serpong Damai golf course in Tangerang, West Java.

Sonni Dwi Harsono, PT Tugu Pratama Indonesia's president director, said yesterday that his company decided to join the Asian PGA Tour in an effort to improve the competitive quality of golf tournaments in the country.

"We are holding the first PGA tour in the country and we're proud to stage such a prestigious tournament for local golfers," he said.

Some 140 golfers, including 14 local players, have confirmed their entry in the three-day US$250,000 championship, due to start on Nov. 27. A Pro-Am competition will follow the tournament on Dec. 1

John Kernohan of the United States, the 1996 Canon Singapore Open champion, Kang Wook-soon of South Korea, the 1996 Kuala Lumpur Open winner, Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, the 1996 Volvo China Open victor, and local golfer Maan Nasim are among the participants.

The championship is the 21st leg of the 1996 Omega Tour series. The season starts with The Asian PGA Qualifying School in Tanjong Puteri Resort, Johor Baru, Malaysia and ends with the Volvo Asian Matchplay at the Emeralda golf course in Bogor, West Java, from Dec. 18 to Dec, 22. (yan)