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