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