Dana Mahmud surges ahead at 5th PP Cup

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Seven birdies thrust Dana Mahmud into the second-round lead of the Rp 150 million (US$19,500) Fifth Pemuda Pancasila Cup golf championship at the Matoa Nasional golf club on Wednesday.

Dana, playing under the banner of Damai Indah Golf (DIG) in Tangerang, raced into the lead with three superb birdies on the fifth, sixth and seventh holes. He also birdied the third, ninth, 10th and 18th holes.

Despite the birdie barrage, Dana stumbled on the par-three fourth and 15th holes, carding a bogey and a double bogey, respectively.

He finished the second round with a three-under 69 for a two- day total of 137 (68 69), giving him a one-shot lead over home golfer Indra Hermawan, who has a two-day total of 138 (68 70).

Overnight leader Asep Capri of DIG fell back into a tie for third place with Maan Naasim from the Sawangan golf club at 140. Asep followed his first-round 67 with a 73 (37 36) on Wednesday.

Maan, who has represented Indonesia at several international events, including the Dunhill Cup, shot a 71 on Wednesday to follow his first-round 69.

Twenty-eight of 102 pros survived the cut, which was placed at 148. Five amateurs will be going on to the third round.

Benny Kasiadi, the son of Indonesian pro Kasiadi, the only local to win the US$120,000 Indonesia Open, which he did in the late 1980s, took the lead in the amateur event with a five-under 67 (33 34) on Wednesday.

The Surabaya-based Benny birdied the sixth, seventh and ninth holes. The 15-year-old had two more birdies on his way home, giving him a two-day total of 141 (74 67). He is sitting two shots better then his father Kasiadi (71 72), who is tied for eighth place six strokes behind the leader.