Epson Cup organizers increase prize money

Epson Cup organizers increase prize money

JAKARTA (JP): The fourth Jagorawi Japan Golf Foundation (JJGF)
Open Golf Championships - Epson Cup will provide the biggest
winnings so far for a local golf tournament with total prize
money of Rp 270 million (US$31,700) up for grabs.

"By providing high prize money, we hope there will be more
competition for golfers. If the prize money was too small, no
professional golfers would be interested in taking part," the
foundation's chairman Takeshi Abe said Tuesday.

"We'll keep increasing the prize money as an incentive for
Indonesian professional players. We also expect this action to
trigger other companies to provide higher prize money which will
only benefit Indonesian golfers," he added.

Abe was speaking at a media conference held prior to the four-
day tournament taking place at the 18 holes par 72 Jagorawi Golf
and Country Club's old course.

Sixty three professional and 32 amateur golfers will compete
in the championship with a main prize of Rp 60 million. There
will be also a preliminary Pro-Am tournament on Wednesday where a
professional golfer teams up with two amateur golfers.

Also present were chairman of the Indonesian Professional Golf
Association (PGPI), Widarsadipradja, chairman of the Singapore
Epson Pte. Ltd., Masayoshi Yamane, chairman of the Jagorawi Golf
and Country Club, Zakir, and winner of the third JJGF's
tournament, the Pocari Cup, Tsuneyuki Naka.

This year's Epson Cup is the second of its kind and the fourth
golfing competition organized and sponsored by JJGF since its
establishment in 1998. The first Epson Cup took place last
October.

Naka said he did not play just for the prize money but to
contribute something to Indonesian golfers.

"Although I'm here on the organizer's invitation, I have
something to share with my experience on the Japanese tour. I
want to show local players my skills and style. I hope it's
useful for them," he said.

"I hope the tournament can be a stepping stone for local
players to compete in Asian or Japanese tours before joining the
US PGA tour. I'd be glad to see Indonesian golfers in the US PGA
tour."

Naka revealed that the minimum money prize in the Japanese
tour was 10 million Yen (US$94,000).

Jagorawi's old course is known for its level of difficulty
with its narrow fairways and sloping contours.

"The old course is quite difficult to play on although it's
not very long. But players must play carefully as it's quite
narrow. They have to be very careful with their shots," Naka
said.

Abe also admitted that many professional players complained
about the course's difficulty which explained why there were no
golfers managing to score under par.

"This year we are trying to compromise by loosening up the
course without sacrificing the standard. We expect more golfers
to reach under par scores," he said.

Tournament coordinator Avie K. Utomo said Naka only scored two
above par when he won the third JJGF's open tournament with 290.

"The previous champions, Buari in 1998 and Maan Nasim in 1999,
managed to score a par of 288. We expect to have up to eight
under par by loosening the course," he said. (nvn)