Indonesia to host three Asian PGA Tour meet

The Jakarta Post, Cimanggis, West Java

In a bid to revive the country's position as a renowned golf venue in the region, the Asian PGA Tour has decided to organize three tournaments in Indonesia.

Until the 1997-1998 period, when the country was hit by an economic crisis, Indonesia has been on the region's golf map as a prestigious venue for many international events.

"After closely following local events in the last three years, in which many foreign golfers took part, the Asian PGA Tour has finally decided to organize three tournaments in Indonesia," Dato Ramlan Haron, president of the Asian PGA Tour, said on Tuesday.

Haron was at the Riverside Golf and Country Club, located some 30 kilometers east of the capital, to watch the ongoing Indonesian Professional Golfers Association (PGPI) Tour, a two- day mini tour.

For many decades before the 1997 economic crisis, Indonesia had been rated as the green from which young golfers from Australia, Europe and even the U.S. may launch their golf careers toward more prestigious tour cards.

"The PGPI mini tour, organized every three months for members, shows a promise for developing upon it," Haron said.

The top three ranking golfers in Indonesia will be allowed to compete in the PGA Tour (Davidoff Tour), while those ranked among the fourth to the tenth will be permitted to go to the Qualifying School to get their Davidoff Tour cards.

Some 107 professional and amateur golfers were taking part in the two-day event, which offers Rp 75 million (US$9,500) and is played at the par-72 golf course designed by one of the world's greatest golfers, Greg "the Shark" Norman.

Sukamdi from Medan, North Sumatra, was the only player who managed to card 2-under-par 70 (37 33) and took the sole lead after Tuesday's first round. -- JP