Indonesia earns gold in men's team golf
Indonesia earns gold in men's team golf
JAKARTA (JP): Ten years of trying and hard work finally earned
Indonesia a gold medal in men's team golf, something it has long
dreamed of since 1997 when it proposed the sport be included in
the SEA Games.
Taking a commanding lead from tee off on Tuesday through to
yesterday's final day, Sukamdi, Dana Mahmud, Denny Supriadi and
Jemin Saputra spurred ahead of the field of 28 players from seven
countries.
The win came after Indonesia carded a team total of 852 (212
209 217 214), six shots ahead of Malaysia which finished second
with a total score of 866 (216 224 213 213). Defending champion
Thailand was relegated to third place after carding 867 (218 212
215 222).
The individual medals were distributed after a three-sided
one-to-one battle between Sukamdi of Indonesia, Filipino Gerald
Rosales and Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee.
Sukamdi, who was second behind Thongchai by one shot going to
the final, surrendered with a bogey in the 17th as Rosales and
Thongchai were making birdies feats since the 14th.
So relentless was their battle for the gold that they had to
continue their dual through a playoff to decide who had the right
to the most wanted medal.
A two-hole playoff on hole 17 and 18 ended with a draw after
both Tongchai and Rosales made birdies and even pars after a two-
hole duel. They repeated the struggle from hole 17 again where
Rosales parred it while the Thai player made a bogey.
In the ladies' event the Philippines took control of the
competition by romping home with both the team and the individual
titles. The Filipinas won the team title by carding 436 (148 145
143) and its best golfer Dorothy Joy Delasin won the gold with
215 (72 72 71).
Indonesia gleaned both silver medals, showing its hard efforts
since the 1991 SEA Games in Manila had paid off. Ani Iman, Sri
Retno Purwandari and Titi Puryani, who made up the strongest team
Indonesia has ever had, carded 445 (146 145 154) for the silver
medal in the team event. Ani with 219 (72 71 76) has a right to
the silver in the individual event.
The bronze went to Malaysia with 449 (149 150 150) and the
individual bronze won by Filipina Rosales with 223 (78 73 72).
"They have given their best and I'm proud of them. They are
still young and they have good futures for other major events,"
said Taufic Aziz, Indonesia Golf Association secretary-general.
Severe challenges from close rivals Thailand, the Philippines
and Malaysia in the last two days for the men's team event
yesterday actually came too late as Indonesia had already raked
up better scores in the first two days.
Malaysia carded the lowest team score of 213 yesterday
(Nachimuthu 70, Dingkil 71 and Zalizan Madhar 72), Philippines
218 (Rosales 66, Edgardo Cantada 76 and Juan Miguel Rocha 76).
Indonesia survived the onslaught thanks to Denny's 69 (34 35)
Dana's 73 (37 36) and Sukamdi's 72 (35 37).
The winners received their medals from Haryanto Danutirto, the
minister of transportation in his capacity as Indonesia Golf
Association's top official. (rsl)