Kasiyadi charges ahead to take Bukit Darmo lead
Kasiyadi charges ahead to take Bukit Darmo lead
By Robert Soelistyo
SURABAYA (JP): Excellent tactics while playing almost
flawlessly gave defending champion Kasiyadi from Surabaya's Yani
Golf Club sole lead by two strokes after the third round of the
Bukit Darmo Golf Championships following a 66 yesterday.
After even pars on the first four holes, the in-form Kasiyadi,
who equalized the course record of 66, continued with four
marvelous birdies on the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th for a four-under-
par 32 on the front nine.
"I think slightly cooler weather and my improved physical
condition helped me make the birdie putts," an elated Kasiyadi
said after making a birdie putt at the 383m par-four 9th.
Kasiyadi, who in 1989 made golf history in Indonesia by
becoming the first local golfer to win the Indonesian Open title,
opened the second nine with a birdie and a bogey putt on the
11th.
Approaching the 14th green with a nine iron on his second
shot, Kasiyadi's shot landed only 50 centimeters from the cup.
Seemingly assured of making an easy birdie, the 37-year-old
Kasiyadi rushed his putt and missed the target, thereby making
only par.
Had he birdied the 362m par-four 14th, according to Kasiyadi,
"it would have been easy for me to make birdies on the next holes
and take the Rp 10 million bonus for shooting a new course
record," Kasiyadi told The Jakarta Post.
The old mark was posted by Jack Nicklaus Jr, the course
designer, on March 11, 1995. After yesterday the bonus was still
in the sponsor's pocket.
Overnight leader Jafar Kelana, playing on his own ground,
unfortunately played a disastrous round of golf and plunged to
joint 10th place after firing an unbelievable eight-over-par 80
for a three-day total of 220 (70 70 80). Another player bunched
on 220 was Patrick D. Young, a pro golfer from Taman Dayu Golf
Resort.
Two strokes behind the leader was Sweden's Steven Atako-
Lindskog after firing a 69 (34 35) yesterday for a total of 209
(68 72 69).
The Nigerian-born Atako-Lindskog, who has been in Indonesia
for four years and used to play at the Pondok Indah course in
Jakarta, took the early lead in chasing the Rp 60 million cash
prize but faltered in the second round Thursday.
Yesterday he seemed to have found his form and ended the day
with a 69 (35 34) coming from four birdies and a single bogey.
Holding third place was Kasiyadi's younger brother Buari, also
from the Yani Golf Club, Surabaya's oldest golf course. He shot a
three-under 69 (34 35) for a three-day aggregate of 210 (70 71
69).
Buari carded two birdies on the front nine and two birdies
against a bogey putt on returning to the club house.
Maan Naasim, one of the country's top golfers, yesterday stole
a bit of the thunder when he shot an eagle on the 383m par-4
9th.
Morale boost
After a morale boost from tournament director Avi Utomo after
a poor showing (76) in the second round Thursday, Maan played
more confidently yesterday.
The 37-year-old from Sawangan, near Jakarta, who turned pro in
1985, played a bogey-free round for a four-under-par 68.
"A golf strategy talk with Mr. Avie boosted my morale and
pushed me to play better," said Maan.
Using a four iron, the long-hitting Maan hit his second shot
to two meters from the cup on the 462-m par-five 8th. He then
holed the put for an eagle.
The four-day tournament, whose sponsors include PT
Adhibaladika Agung, owner of the Bukit Darmo real estate company,
and the five-star Westin Surabaya hotel, ends today.
Selected results
207 - Kasiyadi (YGC) 70 71 66
209 - Steven A-Lindskog (Swe) 68 72 69
210 - Buari (YGC) 70 71 69
212 - Ilyassak (JGC) 71 70 71
213 - Maan Naasim (SWG) 69 76 68
217 - Sumarno (PGPI) 74 74 69 Achmad (FAT) 74 70 73 Bachtiar
Sanja (JGC) 71 70 76
219 - Burhan Bora (MGC) 70 76 73
220 - Patrick D. Young (TDY) 72 72 76 Jafar Kelana (BDG) 70 70 80