Kasiyadi and Maan among big guns at Bali Open
By Robert Soelistyo
NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): Fifty-five of Indonesia's leading professional golfers, including Kasiyadi and Maan Naasim, will tee off today here on the par-72 Bali Golf and Country Club for the Bali Open championship.
The four-day tournament, sanctioned by the Indonesian Golf Association (PGI) and included in the calender of events, is sponsored by the Udayana Military Command in commemoration of its 40th anniversary. This military command overseas the provinces of Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara and East Timor.
"We jointly organized this event with PGI as part of our efforts to help develop golf in the region," chief organizer Col. (Army) Engkon Komara said yesterday.
The Udayana chief Maj. Gen. H. A. Rivai will open the Rp 60 million (US$25,000) tournament at 6.30 a.m. Central Indonesian Time.
Kasiyadi from Surabaya, who rewrote Indonesian golf history by winning the Indonesia Open in 1989, will be the main attraction but he will be challenged by compatriot Maan for the Rp 16.25 million first prize.
The 6,849-yard layout designed by Nelson and Wright, which was inaugurated in April 1991, has hosted many major international events including the Indonesia Open and the Alfred Dunhill Master '94.
It was Nick Faldo, one of the world's top golfers, who produced the 9-under par-63 course record in the Alfred Dunhill Masters before being disqualified the next day for signing his score card wrongly. He failed to write the penalty shots he incurred when he moved pebbles before executing a drive.
"I understand this course is quite difficult but I'll do my best to keep the ball play and hopefully I can produce a new course record," Kasiyadi said.
He said Maan, who has represented Indonesia in many international tournaments abroad including the Alfred Dunhill Cup, will be Kasiyadi's biggest threat.
Maan, from Sawangan club near Jakarta, was involved in a fierce battle with Ian Woosnam and Vijay Singh, two prominent world golfers, in the Johnnie Walker Skins '94 at this course. He also played in the Volvo Matchplay '96 at the Emaralda, Cimanggis near Bogor.
After starting well Maan poor physical condition forced him out of contention and he was beaten by China's Zhang Liang Wei, the eventual champion of the Volvo Matchplay.
The Chinese golfer was crowned 1996 Asia Omega Tour Player of the Year.
"I'm not sure what my chances will be tomorrow, but I'll do my best for sure," Maan said after a practice round yesterday.
The amateur competition, held at the same time, will see two local golfers, I Ketut Budiada from the Bali Golf club and archrival Putu Dipa from Bali Handara, in a fierce duel.
Dipa beat Budiada in the 1996 Bukit Darmo Open in Surabaya and Budiada is determined to avenge the loss.
In the professional event, the final rounds will feature only 20 players who will fight it out for the prize money.