Calcavecchia and Parry test course at Satelindo Open
JAKARTA (JP): American Mark Calcavecchia and top Australian golfer Craig Parry are raring to go at the US$275,000 Satelindo Indonesia Open Golf Championships which tees off this morning at the par 72 Jagorawi course, halfway between here and Bogor.
Calcavecchia, a former British Open champion, will make his Southeast Asian debut in the tournament, the fifth leg of the 25- leg 1997 Omega Tour. Tiger Woods won the first leg, the Asian Honda Classic, in Bangkok.
Calcavecchia said yesterday, "It is certainly not an easy golf layout.
"The course has so many hazards and out of bounds I think you will see a lot of high scores here this week."
Calcavecchia, a seven-time winner of the U.S. PGA tour and winner of the 1989 British Open, is seeking his first tournament win since the 1995 Bell South Classic on the U.S. PGA tour.
"You have to play well on this course, otherwise you are dead," he said of the new 6,322-meter course designed by Peter Thomspson and Michael Wolveridge.
Calcavecchia said that high humidity made the tropical temperatures even harder for players -- a sentiment not shared by Australian Craig Parry.
"I have played in Indonesia quite a lot in the past and actually find the temperature quite cool at the moment," Parry said.
"It is hard to keep your temper cool on the course however... I lost about six balls today, you have to play carefully and defensively here."
The Satelindo Indonesia Open has a 136 man lineup.
Past winners entered this year include New Zealander Frank Nobilo who won the Open in 1994 at Pantai Indah Kapuk, North Jakarta, and American Payne Stewart who won in 1986. In 1989, the Surabaya-born Kasiyadi became the first local player to win the Open at the Jakarta Golf Club in East Jakarta.
"I'll do my best to try my luck again this time, though I understand it will be very hard," the 34-year-old Kasiyadi said yesterday.
Kasiyadi and Maan Naasim from Sawangan Golf Club are among 10 pro golfers representing Indonesia in the annual tournament, which began in 1974.
Jagorawi's New Course, which opened in 1991, is long and even. But, although the fairways seem wider than the Old Course's, they are narrow in the landing zones and have well placed, deep faced fairway bunkers which await their victims.
"The New Course has quickly gained a reputation as one of the most difficult tests of golf in Southeast Asia," Jagorawi golf course chairman Zakir said.
The New Course is also home to the renowned 11th, 12th and 13th holes which are nicknamed "the devil's corner".
"These three holes have ruined many great rounds and will provide an exciting final nine for the championships," Zakir said.
New clubs
Yesterday was a lucky day for some professional golfers when they received free drivers which they are expected to test on the Omega Tour.
The ProGear clubs were designed after 10 years of research. They were first produced in 1993.
Cory Pavin of the U.S. was among the world-rated golfers who used ProGear in 1995 when he won the U.S. Open.
ProGear spokesman Avie Utomo said, "The clubs made of silver titanum are for pros as well as amateurs with low handicaps."
They are available in black titanium with a smaller head and in red titanium for senior players.
The clubs, which cost Rp 1.3 million each, are sold at Jakarta's leading golf shops. (rsl)