Kasiadi wins Rp 150m E. Java Open by three

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In spite of playing unimpressively in the final round on Thursday Kasiadi still had enough luck on his side to win the Rp 150 million East Java Open by three shots after carding a total score of 286 (74 69 69 74).

Urged on by some 200 home fans since the opening round, in which Kasiadi took a three-stroke lead, he nevertheless failed to put in the sort of performance he displayed the day before. Not a single birdie was shot. Instead two bogeys were collected and 16 pars for an even par-72 (36 36) in the final round on Thursday.

"I felt the pressure from my close rival Soewarno, but I tried to play cool to reach my target of winning the title," an elated Kasiadi told newsmen. His coolness paid off, and he went home with the top prize of Rp 27,550,000.

The 40-year-old Kasiadi became the first ever local golfer to win the US$100,000 Indonesia Open golf championship in 1989.

Three shots behind Kasiadi was the sole Japanese golfer in the field of 91 pros. Tomoharu Kimoro closed the final round with a 3-under 69 for a 289 (80 70 70 69), and second place.

Tomoharu was playing under the banner of the Bali Handara Kosaido Club in Bali, where he has been living for the last five years.

Soewarno K from Surabaya's Bukit Darmo Golf Club, who took the second round on Wednesday, was relegated to third place with a total score of 292 (72 71 72 77).

Young local hope Indra Hermawan, who has only been playing with the pros for the last two years, had to be content with fourth place and a total score of 293 (74 73 70 76).

In the amateur event, the East Java Amateur Championship trophy was won by East Java golfer Andik with a total score of 294 (75 73 72 74). He is among a number of golfers being groomed for the 2004 National Sports Games in Palembang.

The annual East Java Open is organized by the Association of Indonesian Pro Golfers (PGPI) in close cooperation with the East Java branch of the Indonesian Golf Association (PGI).