Faldo and Parnevik share lead

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