Golf hopes to capture one gold at SEA Games

By Primastuti Handayani

JAKARTA (JP): Golf is better known as an expensive sport only popular among the affluent community. For a biennial event like the SEA Games, what can Indonesia hope to achieve?

"A gold. We just want to retain our achievement here from two years ago," nonplaying captain Johnny Sujana said on Wednesday.

Indonesia won the sole gold in the men's team event, thanks to Sukamdi, Deny Supriadi, Jemin Saputra and Dana Mahmud. It also won two silvers from the women's team of Ani Iman, Siti Retno Purwandari and Titi Puryanti and in the women's individual event from Ani. Another bronze medal came from Sukamdi in the men's individual event.

Can Indonesia repeat its success despite a very short training session?

Coach Gimin expressed confidence that the men's and women's players would be able to retain the gold.

"The golf course in Brunei Darussalam is flat and doesn't have an up-and-down layout like the Jagorawi course. That's why we train them in Sawangan because it has a similar layout," said the professional player.

The National Sports Council (KONI) chairman, Wismoyo Arismunandar, urged PGI to move its men's team training from Bandung to Sawangan, West Java, because of the similar layout with the course in Brunei.

The Indonesian Golf Association (PGI) is serious in preparing its athletes despite the short period. It hired two foreign coaches -- David Breen of Australia for the men's team and Stephen Lindskog of Sweden for the women's team.

Breen was behind Indonesia's success two years ago.

Both foreign coaches said the national team had a very short time to practice but they hoped the players would be able to overcome the pressure on the course.

"Three months is not enough. If we had a longer time, it would be better for the players," Lindskog said.

"I just arrived on Sunday and I only have two weeks to train the men's team. We are focusing on their mind and game plans on how to play in Brunei. We are not talking about technical skills," Breen said.

"SEA Games is every two years. It's better if Indonesia prepares its athletes continuously for the event."

Breen said the course in Brunei had a lot of water hazzards and it would be very important for both teams to have a special strategy to overcome them.

Johnny said although the preparation time was shorter, it had more training programs.

"Two years ago we had five tournaments as tryouts. This year we only have one tournament, the Brunei Open."

Problems

Titi won the bronze in the warm-up tournament.

"I think we don't have any problems with the course as long as the players use the technic taught by the two foreign coaches. We also staged a simulation at the Sawangan golf course," Johnny said.

Titi said Indonesian players met rivals from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and host Brunei.

"But no Filipinos competed at the event," Titi, nicknamed Ipur, said. "I think we all have equal chances at the Games."

Ipur and Retno named Dorothy Delasin, 28, and Jennifer Rosales, 20, of the Philippines as the strongest rivals in the Games.

Ipur said another strong contender was Lim Ai Lian of Malaysia.

"I beat her in the Malaysia Open by only one stroke. It was my best play," she said.

Retno expressed hope she would not have to undergo a playoff.

"In the 1997 Malaysia Open I had to do the playoff and I was trembling that I couldn't swing. I was lucky I did win," she said.

All players must jog every afternoon for about an hour. Two years ago they underwent weight training but not this year.

The players start playing from 8.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. Every Monday they practice driving from 1.00 to 5.00 p.m.

"We don't have any problems with their technical skills but we must work hard on their physical condition," Gimin said.

Gimin is optimistic with his players' preparation.

"They are good players and I don't have any troubles in coaching them. I hope they can be the best."

Team members

Men: Denny Supriadi, Sarmilih, Suprapto, Abdul Rochim

Women: Ani Iman, Siti Retno Purwandari, Titi Puryanti