Chang, Chawalit take early lead in Tugu Pratama

JAKARTA (JP): Chang Tse-Peng of Chinese Taipei and Thailand's Chawalit Plaphol, the first-round leader last week on the Omega Tour, share the lead after the first day of the US$300,000 Tugu Pratama PGA Championship 1997 on six-under-par 66 yesterday.

Australian Brad Andrews, Paul Friedlander of Swaziland, the winner of last year's Dubai Creek Open, and the Omega Order of Merit leader, Mike Cunning of the United States, are all one shot behind.

Chang, who only finished 37th in the same tournament last year, said he played perfectly today at the Bumi Serpong Damai golf course.

"Although I missed some shots today, everything went well," he told a post-round press conference.

"I am feeling relaxed on the golf course and feel that I am hitting the ball better than ever," said the 23-year-old Chawalit.

"It was a good round today but I know there is still a long way to go," added the Thai player, who took eighth place in last week's Lexus International.

Indonesia's Bachtiar Sanja and Burhan Bora, winner of the Prasidha East Java Open last September at Ciputra Course in Surabaya, were lying sixth with three-under-par 69s.

Chang, cousin of American tennis star Michael Chang, bogeyed the third hole but then shot seven birdies on the fourth, fifth, eighth, ninth, 14th, 17th and 18th holes.

The 27-year-old golfer, who turned pro after the 1994 Asian Games, said he had competed in 16 out of 19 Omega tour series.

"In all of the 16 tournaments, this is the first time I've ever taken the lead," he said.

Chang, who is 17th on the Omega Order of Merit with $52,170, said Cunning would be his main opponent in today's round.

"Mike is a very strong golfer on the Omega tour. He's very consistent and he's good at every shot.

"I need more self-confidence tomorrow but I'm trying to concentrate more on the game and not to win tomorrow's round."

"I could be playing in Taiwan this week but I chose to come here. It is an important time of the year for everybody. The higher you finish on the money list the more opportunities open up for you," said Chang.

Cunning, still looking for his first win on the Omega Tour, was surprised by his opening round. "The course suits long hitters and although my ball striking is solid I do not hit the ball very far," said the American. "We'll see what happens."

One hundred and twenty-six golfers, including 32 locals, are competing in the annual event, which ends on Saturday.

The organizers are also providing $20,000 prize money for the Pro-Am tournament on Sunday and Rp 10 million (US$2,741) for golfers who manage to produce a hole-in-one. (yan)

Results: 66 - Chang Tse-Peng (Tpe), Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 67 - Brad Andrews (Aus), Mike Cunning (U.S.), Paul Friedlander (Swz) 68 - Gavin Vearing (Aus), Jim Rutledge (Can) 69 - Bachtiar Sanja (Ina), Jun Ojima (Jpn), Burhan Bora (Ina), Clay Devers (U.S.), Christian Pena (U.S.) 70 - Park Unho (Aus), Ramon Brobio (Phi), Jun Tae-Hyun (Kor), Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha), Kwon Young-suk (Kor), Stephen Atako-Lindskog (Swe), Maan Nasim (Ina), Kim Young-il (Kor) 71 - Lee Yong-Hee (Kor), Dede Idris (Ina), Robert Huxtable (U.S.), Richard Kaplan (Rsa), Dominique Boulet (Hkg), Jeff Senior (Aus), Wayne Bradley (Rsa), Mohd Khalid Yusof (Sin), Chua Guan Soon (Sin), M.T. Anto (Ina)