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'Green' team aims for medals on the links

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

After being left off the roster for the 22nd Southeast Asian
Games (SEAG) in Vietnam in 2003, golf makes its return in the
Philippines this year with Indonesia fielding a team of
newcomers.

None of the squad from the 2001 SEAG in Malaysia, including
the history-making women who took gold for the first time in the
team event and bronze (Retno Purwandari) in the individual
competition, will take to the links at the Riviera Golf Club in
Silang, Cavite, south of Manila.

Amateur training head of the Indonesian Golf Association (PGI)
Robby Robot said former top amateur men had turned professional
and the women golfers were involved in other activities or had
retired after marrying.

Among those missing from the squad are 2004 National Games
women's individual champion Ani Iman, who is now a coach in
Jakarta, and Retno. The latter, who is 30, said age was a factor
in letting younger players have their chance to shine.

With Thai golfers still expected to be the ones to beat in
November, Robby said on Tuesday the golfers were set a broad
target.

"The National Sports Council demands the golfers bring any
kind of medal home," he said.

Two qualifying tournaments earlier this year selected golfers
for national training. However, Kemal Pasha of Jakarta, Rizal
Arya of East Java and Ines Putri Tjiptadi of Bali subsequently
withdrew due to work or college commitments.

Robby said their withdrawal did not have a significant impact
on the team's hopes because other golfers, despite being lower
ranked, could take their place.

"The players were selected from qualifying tournaments and
they were not just picked perfunctorily before they came to the
training center," Robby said.

The golfers' daily regimen includes physical training, match
play and driving range practice in Surabaya to prepare for the
SEAG.

They are also getting competitive match play experience in
national and overseas events, including the Panwest Malaysia
Amateur Open in May and the Nomura Cup in Tokyo later this month.

The women competed in the West Java Ladies Indonesia Open that
ended last Thursday, with Juriah the highest finisher at fourth,
and are scheduled for the Ladies Indonesia Open early this month
and the Hong Kong Ladies Amateur Open in September.

The national team is due to relocate to Jakarta on Sunday
although some players initially wished to stay in the East Java
capitl.

All of the men's team hail from East Java and PGI vice
secretary-general Djaya Sudarya said he received a letter on Aug.
30 from them stating they preferred to continue training in the
East Java capital.

Last Wednesday, Djaya said the matter had been resolved. "All
the players are ready to come to Jakarta and will train at Matoa
golf course in South Jakarta." (004)

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National team

Men
Andik Mauluddin
Suprapto
Suyanto
Sardi

Women
Lidya Ivana Jaya
Risti Yuanda Putri
Juriah
Iki Hasan