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)