Four golfers take the lead while Asep slumps

BOGOR, West Java (JP): Four golfers currently jointly share the lead, taking over the top position from overnight leader Asep Suganda who slumped with seven-over-par 79 for an aggregate of four-over-par 148 on the second day of the Rp 200 million (US$18,350) fifth Japan Jagorawi Golf Foundation (JJGF) Open Golf Championship on Friday.

Jakarta-based Swede Stephen Atako-Lindskog, Sumarno, and Sanusi all carded two-under-par 70 while Putu Dipta produced one- under par 71 to jointly lead by an even par 144.

"I played all out today. I'll perform more aggressively on Saturday without any pressure," Sanusi told reporters.

He made a bogey in par-3 hole 2 and covered it with two birdies in par-3 hole 5 and par-4 hole 9 for a one-under-par 35 in the front nine. Returning home, he made another two birdies at par-5 hole 10 and par-4 hole 14 with another bogey at par-4 hole 18 to produce two-under-par 70.

After the two-round cut off, 36 golfers qualified for the finals on Saturday and Sunday. Twenty six professional golfers survived the 153 cut-off accompanied by other 10 amateurs passing the 163 mark.

Top national golfer Maan Nasim nearly missed the cut-off while recovering from typhoid. He carded five-over-par 77 for a total of 152.

Among amateurs, Inam Zarems took the lead after carding one- over-par 73 for an aggregate of 151. He is one of eight golfers selected for the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games from Sept. 8 to Sept. 17.

Inam made an impressive four-under-par 32 while going out but he slipped when returning home. He carded two double bogeys at hole 11 and 13 for five-over-par 41 while approaching the club house.

"I didn't concentrate and played hastily. If I was more patient I could have played better. I should have used my brain rather than following emotion," he told reporters.

Suyanto was trailing with 154 after producing six-over-par 78. Suprapto, Indra Hermawan and Iin Setiawan shared third place with an aggregate of 13-over-par 157.

Organizers had to disqualify amateur Nasin because he placed his ball in the wrong relief after landing the ball on the flower bed at hole 9. (nvn)

Results (Indonesian unless otherwise noted): 144 - Stephen Atako-Lindskog (Swe) 74-70, Sumarno 74-70, Sanusi 74-70, Putu Dipta 73-71 145 - Kasiyadi 70-75 146 - Tatsuya Kihara (Jpn) 75-71 147 - Danny Chia (Mal) 75-72 148 - Asep Suganda 69-79 149 - Sudihartono 76-73, Soewarno K. 73-76, Ilyassak 73-76