Faldo and Parnevik share lead
By Robert Soelistyo
CIMANGGIS, West Java (JP): Briton Nick Faldo and Swede Jesper Parnevik played consistently from the first tee to the final green to share the early lead in the US$350,0000 Johnnie Walker Super Tour at the Emeralda Golf and Country Club here yesterday.
Faldo, whose 33 and 34 included birdies on the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 10th and 15th though, said however that he did not play well.
"I did not really play well today and I had many problems with my putting," he said, promising to play much better in the next three rounds.
Parnevik's 67 came from six birdies, on the 1st, 7th 9th, 10th, 17th and 18th, against a bogey on the 8th.
The two stars, along with South African Ernie Els and Welshman Ian Woosnam had just finished playing in the Million Dollar Challenge in Sun City, South Africa, from where they were flown directly to Perth, Australia before taking a special flight to Jakarta for the Emeralda round of the Tour.
"I felt very tired on the back nine after that long journey from South Africa, but I just played to my best. This morning (Tuesday) I woke up at 6 a.m., that is 1 a.m. at home," Faldo explained. "I will play better in the next rounds."
Finishing third was defending champion Els, two shots behind the joint leaders. Shooting birdies on the 3rd and 4th in the first nine and producing another two birdies on the 13th and 15th before making a bogey on the 18th for a 3-under 69.
Tied in fourth place were Filipino Felix Casas and Woosnam, who each carded a 70. Casas' was 34 36 while Woosnam, ranked 25th in the latest world ranking list scored 34 36.
Local hope Maan Naasim is in seventh after a two-over 74, two shots worse than Thailand's Boonchu Ruangkit. Taiwan's rising amateur hope Hong Chia-Yuh is in last place after carding a 77.
"I played very poorly the whole round today. Nothing was right will my putting. But most important was that I got very good lessons by playing against world players like Woosnam and Faldo," Maan said.
"In the next rounds in Thailand, the Philippines and Taiwan I promise to play better."
The front nine holes were played on the Arnold Palmer-designed course while for the back nine the golfers moved to the Lake course.
More than 3,000 fans followed their progress, the largest golfing gallery in Indonesia after the world cup in 1983 at Jakarta's Pondok Indah course.
In the space of six days, the Tour will take the eight golfers on a whirlwind tour, playing four rounds of golf in four different nations. The player with the best aggregate score following the usual 72-hole strokeplay tournament will be declared the winner.
Unique
The Super Tour, which is limited to eight players, moves to Bangkok for the second round tomorrow.
After Bangkok it proceeds to the Philippines for the third round before concluding in Taiwan on Sunday.
"It's quite interesting to play in this Johnnie Walker Tour as having such a small number of players in the field makes it more interesting to watch. I think the tournament should be shown live on TV," Faldo said.
The course, designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer, received high praise from all the participating players. They said it was in good condition and was well kept.
This year's Super Tour is shaping up to be yet another captivating tournament. First place is worth $100,000 with the runner-up receiving $65,000. And to make it more unique in terms of cash prizes, no player goes home empty-handed with eighth position worth $10,000.
The Super Tour is one of the many ways the scotch whisky company supports the growth and development of international golf. Other major golfing events supported by the company include the Ryder Cup, the Johnnie Walker Classic -- the 1998 event to be staged at Phuket, Thailand in January -- and the Johnnie Walker International Club Championships.
Results: 67 - Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 34 33, Nick Faldo (Eng) 33 34 69 - Ernie Els (Rsa) 34 35 70 - Felix Casas (Phi) 34 36, Ian Woosnam (Wal) 34 36 72 - Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha) 36 36 74 - Maan Naasim (Ina) 37 37 77 - Hong Chia-Yuh (Am - Tpe) 40 37