Jobe grabs Sempati title
Jobe grabs Sempati title
JAKARTA (JP): A gusty wind did not trouble the steady play of American Brandt Jobe to win the US$250,000 Bali Sempati Open golf championship by two strokes at the Bali Golf and Country Club yesterday.
Taking command on the opening round on Wednesday, together with fellow countryman Eric Meeks, Jobe went out with an even par 36 after a birdie put in the 4th. He endured a stroke deficit in the 6th and parred the following holes.
Returning to the club house, Jobe fired three fine birdies, in the 10th, 11th and 13th, for a three-under 33 to make his four- day score to a commendable 15-under 273 (66 72 66 69).
His tireless efforts gave him the top purse worth $41,650 before tax.
"Playing golf is my job, so I cannot say it was an easy thing to do in winning a tournament," said the elated Jobe after receiving the check.
"The wind during the first three days was not so tormenting like on the final day, which made my job even tougher," the American golfer added.
Overnight leader Li Keng-chi of Chinese Taipei was two strokes behind at 275 (71 68 63 73) for second place and pocketed $27,775.
Li, who equaled the course record of 63 after firing a remarkable 10 birdie putts on Friday, and put Jobe in second spot behind him, was brought down to earth after his poor one-over 73 yesterday.
He said the strong wind had dispersed his concentration. "I played a bit nervous and had trouble in placing the pin." Yesterday's 73 was the worst score he collected.
The course record was notched by England's world class Nick Faldo when he played in the Alfred Dunhill Master last year.
Roger Wessels of South Africa, Australia's Glen Joyner and Meeks were bunched in a three-way tie for third place, each with a 277. Wessels closed the round with a 69 (72 67 69 69), Joyner's 71 (67 67 72 71) and Meeks carded a 73 (66 67 71 73).
Yesterday's final round also saw Kim Jong-duck of South Korea get two penalty shots for playing on the wrong green of the 15th. Kim stole the show on Thursday, the second day of the tournament, by shooting the day's best score of 64.
Before the penalty, Kim carded a 70 and was placed third with an aggregate score of 276 (71 64 71 70). The penalty downgraded him to sixth place, together with Kevin Wentworh and Bob, both from the U.S.A.
The tournament, sponsored by Sempati Air, is included in the 1995 Asian Tour golf championships, sanctioned by both the Asia- Pacific Golf Confederation and the Indonesia Golf Association. (rsl)