Lindskog retains Olympic Open title

Lindskog retains Olympic Open title

JAKARTA (JP): Swedish golfer Stephen Atako Lindskog came back
from behind to retain the title at the Rp 350 million (US$36,000)
2001 Olympic Open at the Taman Dayu Golf Club in Pandaan, East
Java on Friday.

Lindskog, who lives in Jakarta, finished with a three-under-
par 69 for an aggregate eight-under-par 280 to beat overnight
leader Greg Hanrahan of the U.S. by four strokes. The Swede took
the winner's Rp 67 million prize money.

It was Lindskog's second Olympic Open win after triumphing in
the inaugural event in 1999. He lost to Wang Ter Chiang of
Chinese Taipei last year.

Bangkok-based Hanrahan, who had led the pack since the first
round, had to be content with second place on a four-under-par
284 after firing an even par 72 on Friday.

Going out with a three-under-par 33, Lindskog produced four
birdies at the first, fifth, sixth and seventh holes with a bogey
at the ninth hole.

On the way back to the clubhouse, however, he managed only an
even par 36 after two birdies at the 10th and 11th holes and two
bogeys at the 16th and 17th holes.

"I was just trying to do my best on the first nine. It really
helped me a lot on the back nine," he said.

Meanwhile, Hanrahan attributed Lindskog's victory to his
constant playing.

"Stephen outplayed me from the fifth hole and maintained the
good work. He really played well today," the man from Connecticut
said.

Hanrahan carded a two-over-par 38 on the first nine, bogeying
the fourth and sixth holes. He had the chance to surge back with
two birdies at the 10th and 14th holes, but wasted the chance
with two bogeys at the 15th and 17th holes.

Finishing third among the professional golfers was Indonesian
Maan Nasim who made a one-under-par 73 to finish 12 strokes
behind Lindskog at 292.

Indra Hermawan took the amateur title, carding an even par 74
on Friday for an aggregate even par 288.

Indra, who is being groomed for the Kuala Lumpur 2001
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, finished third overall ahead of
Maan.

Suprapto came second among the amateurs with 297 after
collecting a five-over-par 77 on Friday. He made a two-way tie at
the fifth overall with professional golfer Bachtiar Banca. (nvn)