Fifteen local golfers to take on foreign starts at Satelindo Open
Fifteen local golfers to take on foreign starts at Satelindo Open
JAKARTA (JP): Fifteen local golfers will challenge Craig Parry
of the U.S., Anthony Painter and Lucas Parsons of Australia and
other internationals at the US$275,000 Satelindo Indonesian Open
Golf Championship from April 23 to April 27.
The Indonesia Golf Association (IGA) selected 10 professionals
yesterday and will name five amateurs today to take on 144
foreign golfers.
Kasiyadi and Maan Naasim will head the Indonesian challenge.
Kasiyadi, who trains in Surabaya, won the Bukit Darmo Golf
tournament last month and was the first local golfer to win the
Indonesian Open in 1989.
Kasiyadi has represented Indonesia in many prestigious events
like the Alfred Dunhill Cup, Volvo Masters and Johnnie Walker
Classic.
Maan, who trains at Jakarta's Sawangan Golf club, has won
eight local tournaments since turning professional in 1980. Last
year he finished in the top ten at the Volvo China Open and in
the top 20 at the Indonesia Open.
The eight other local pros are Burhan Bore, Ilyasyak, Bachtiar
Sanja, Sumarno, Budiono, Asep Capri, Buari, Efendy and Sukamdi.
They will take on the leading players in the Asia-Pacific Golf
Association's Omega Tour at the Indonesian Open at the Jagorawi
golf course, near Bogor.
Satelindo, the main sponsor, will give financial assistance to
two local pros who perform well at the tournament. The private-
owned telecommunications company will give $5,000 to each golfer
to travel and compete in a minimum of four events on the Omega
Tour.
Pleased
"The IGA is very pleased that Satelindo has agreed to help
finance our golfers in international tournaments on the Omega
Tour. Taking part in such events will help boost their golfing
skills," said the association's secretary-general, Taufic Aziz.
Satelindo sponsors several major golf events in Indonesia, and
wants to help develop local talent to play world-class golf.
"We hope the valuable tournament experience those two golfers
gain will allow them to compete on an equal footing with the best
in the region and the world," Mario Cardinalo of Satelindo said.
Sukamdi of North Sumatra will be the top-ranked local amateur
at the open. He has dominated domestic and regional amateur golf
for the last decade, won the Indonesian Amateur Open seven times
and a gold medal at the 1991 SEA Games in Singapore.
The four other amateurs will be selected according to the
results of yesterday's qualifying round at the new par-72 course
at Jagorawi. (rsl)