India takes 1st round lead in Johnnie Walker
India takes 1st round lead in Johnnie Walker
CIMANGGIS, West Java (JP): Defending champion India,
represented by players from the Royal Calcutta Golf Club,
overcame heat and humidity yesterday to take the first round lead
in the prestigious amateur Johnnie Walker International Club
Championship at the Emeralda Golf and Country Club.
The Indian trio from the oldest club in the world outside the
United Kingdom was represented by Sudip Chitlangia in handicap
Class A (0-9) who carded a 73.4, Chandra Kant Pasari in Class B
(10-16), who collected an individual score of 72.4 and in Class C
(17-24) by Ravindra K. Kanoi, who collected a 73.8, for a first
round aggregate of 219.6 points using the Double Peoria handicap
system. India recorded a total team score of 219.6 points.
"The team found the hot and humid conditions, combined with
the long rough, very testing," said India's captain Ashit M.
Luthra. "Nevertheless, we are hoping to build on the lead and
follow it up tomorrow with a win."
The 1995 Johnnie Walker International Club champion from
Myanmar, looking to win a second for his country, is in second
place, 0.6 points behind the leaders with a score of 220.2 while
hot on its heels in third place, with a team score of 221.2
points, is the Leam Chabang International Golf Club of Thailand.
The local team from Bogor Golf Club with T. Sugianto, Zainal
Effendi and Anthony Matulesy representing the host country, is in
11th position, 13.8 points behind the leader.
Individual
The leading players in the individual handicap categories
after day one were Thailand's Chotchoung Ratikampul and Ko Tae-ha
of South Korea in Division A with a score of 76, India's Chandra
Kant Pasari in Class B with 82 and Lew Ching Yoong of Singapore
with a score of 83.
Also participating in the seventh championship are Guam
(Talafofo Golf Club) in fourth place, followed by Vietnam (Song
Be Golf Club), South Korea (Cheju Country Club), Singapore
(Warren Golf and Country Club), Sri Lanka (Royal Colombo Golf
Club), Indonesia (Bogor Golf Club), Nepal (Royal Nepal Golf Club)
and Hong Kong (Sheko Golf Club).
China, which qualified for the Emeralda meet, did not
participate due to reported entry permit problems.
Today the cream of the Asia Pacific region's best amateur
golfers will continue with their second day battle in the Johnnie
Walker International Club for top honors and will be followed by
the Second Johnnie Walker Super Tour from Dec. 9 to Dec. 14.
In the space of six days, eight golfers will travel on a
whistle-stop tour, playing four rounds of golf in four countries.
The players with the best aggregate score following the 72-hole
stroke play competition through Indonesia (Dec. 9), Thailand
(Dec. 11), the Philippines (Dec. 13) and Taiwan (Dec. 14) will
take the US$100,000 first prize. (rsl)
Results
219.6 - India
220.2 - Myanmar
221.2 - Thailand
221.8 - Guam
222.6 - Vietnam
223 - South Korea
224.6 - Singapore
225.8 - Malaysia
227.4 - Philippines
229.2 - Sri Lanka
233.4 - Indonesia
241 - Nepal
244.6 - Hong Kong