Ilyassak takes two-shot lead at PGPI golf event

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Playing nearly flawless golf on the first day of this PGPI minitour event at the Halim Golf Course II in East Jakarta, Aceh- born Ilyassak took a two-shot lead after carding a four-under-par 68 (33 35) on Monday.

This is the third event in this year's minitour, organized by the Association of Professional Golfers of Indonesia (PGPI). It has a total cash prize of Rp 50 million (US$5,400).

Ilyas shot three birdies on the front nine and two more on his way back to the clubhouse, his round marred by only one bogie for a 68 and the sole lead of the event.

Despite offering less prize money than the two-day minitour events at the Riverside Golf and Country Club near Bogor in June, there are more golfers taking part in the event at Halim, which ends on Tuesday.

From a total field of 118 golfers, 26 pros will battle for the prize money. They come from Bandung, Surabaya, Bali, Batam and Jakarta. The main sponsor of the event is Quantra Sonni Puteri, which also sponsors the annual Bukit Darmo Open.

Lurking two strokes behind Ilyas is up-and-coming Indonesian Indra Hendrawan from the Matoa Nasional golf club, who carded a two-under 70 (35 35).

Kasiadi from Surabaya and Japan's Tomoharu Kimura, playing out of the Bali Handara Kosaido club, are joint third at one-under 71.