Home favorite Kasiyadi reatain title by one stroke

Home favorite Kasiyadi reatain title by one stroke

By Robert Soelistyo

SURABAYA (JP): Home favorite and defending champion Kasiyadi
earned his billing as the country's leading golfer yesterday when
he won the Bukit Darmo Golf Championship by one stroke with a
four-round, 8-under-par total of 280.

The back-to-back victories makes the 37-year-old Kasiyadi Rp
13.5 million richer. The prize was presented by Hendro Sumampow,
owner of PT Adhibaladhika Agung which manages and owns the golf
course.

Three golfers were involved in a fierce battle at the end as
the winner finished only one shot ahead of second place and the
third golfer was only one stroke behind second place.

Kasiyadi and Nigerian-born Swede Steven Atako-Lindskog were
both tied at 8-under par after the 15th hole. But on the 16th
Kasiyadi hit a birdie after a difficult drive while Atako-
Lindskog made a bogey after missing a putt.

A birdie putt and a bogey on the last two holes was enough for
Kasiyadi to win the trophy for the second time. He finished the
tournament with a 1-over-par 73, the only over-par round he made
during the four-day event. His other rounds were 70 71 66.

Kasiyadi, father of five sons, made golf history in Indonesia
when in 1989 became the first local player to win the prestigious
Indonesian Open which then offered total prize money of
US$120,000.

Atako-Lindskog, who with a 68 stole the show on the opening
day of the annual tournament, held to commemorate the second year
of the golf course, had to be content with second place with an
aggregate score of 281 (68 72 69 72). He went home with a purse
worth Rp 6.8 million.

The third golfer involved in the tussle for the top cash prize
was Ilyassak from Jakarta's JGC. Joined in third place with
Surabaya-based Buari on Friday, Ilyassak pushed away and stood
alone in third place at the end with a four-day total of 282 (71
70 71 70). For coming third he pocketed Rp 4 million.

For the last two years Ilyassak has been in the top 10 money
earners on the national PGA list.

Buari came fourth with 284 (70 71 69 74), one shot ahead of
Maan Naasim from Sawangan near Jakarta who carded 69 76 68 72.

The tournament, which was officially opened by East Java
Deputy Governor Adbul Hamid in his capacity as East Java's
National Sports Council chief, was closed yesterday by Indonesia
Golf Association Secretary-General Taufic Aziz.

He hoped all the golfers would score better in the next
competition, wherever it takes place.

"The next major event Surabaya will host will be the East Java
Open. This most probably will be held at the newly established
Ciputra Raya course," Taufic said.

The Bukit Darmo was held to further develop the skills of both
pro golfers and amateur players, said tournament organizer
Brasada Chandra.

"I congratulate all six golfers who ended under par. This is
much better than last year's event where only the champion
Kasiyadi was able to finish under par," Brasada said, adding the
event was also staged to help the development of golf in
Indonesia and particularly in East Java.

In the amateur event held together with the pro tournament,
Bali scored a one-two as Putu Dipta from the Bali Handara Kosaido
won the trophy after carding a four-day total of 297 (78 76 70
73).

I Ketut Budiada from the Bali Golf Nusa Dua came second with a
total score of 304 (75 75 78 76) and Suprapto from Malang, East
Java, finished third on 307 (75 75 78 76).

Selected results:
280 - Kasiyadi (YGC) 70 71 66 73
281 - Steven Atako-Lindskog (Swe) 68 72 69 72
282 - Ilyassak (JGC) 71 70 71 70
284 - Buari (YGC) 70 71 69 74
285 - Maan Naasim (SWG) 69 76 68 72
287 - Bachtiar Sanja (JGC) 71 70 76 70
290 - Patrick D. Young (TDY) 72 72 76 70 Burhan Bora (MGC) 70 76
73 71
291 - Achmad (FAT) 74 70 73 74 Sumarno (JGC) 74 74 69 74

Amateur (the best three):
297 - Putu Dipta (BHK) 78 76 70 73
304 - I.K. Budiana (BGND) 75 75 78 76
307 - Suprapto (MLG) 82 77 72 76