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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)
----------------------------------------- National team
Men Andik Mauluddin Suprapto Suyanto Sardi
Women Lidya Ivana Jaya Risti Yuanda Putri Juriah Iki Hasan