Little known Dewi wins Srikandi Cup
JAKARTA (JP): Playing patiently and consistently proved the winning formula for little-known Dewi Suhartati from Medan's Deli Golf Club in the prestigious Srikandi Cup.
The member of Medan's Deli Golf Club took the Indonesian Ladies Amateur Open after carding her third consecutive 78 in the final round at Cikarang Golf and Country Club near here yesterday for a total score of 234.
"It was hard for me to play aggressively as I know nothing about this course," said the diminutive 24-year-old golfer who began playing when she was only 16 years old.
Dewi, the fifth child of nine, is the first player from Deli Golf Club to ever win the illustrious trophy. Yesterday she defeated much more experienced players from Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung.
The oldest golf club in North Sumatra hosted the event in 1989, two years after it was first played at the Jakarta Golf Club. The Cup remained in the hands of JGC players in 1984, and from 1986 to 1991.
Taking over the lead from first-round pacesetter Diana Suwandi from the Jagorawi Golf C&C after the second round on Thursday with her second 78, Dewi closed the competition with another 78 (39 39).
"I just played relaxed and tried my best to keep the ball in check," said Dewi, who works at the Bukit Barisan Golf Club.
Her final 78 included two birdies, five bogeys and one double bogey.
"To be honest," she added: "the absence of Indonesia's best hopes because of their SEA Games duty had really helped me win the Cup I've been dreaming of for years."
The Indonesia Golf Association decided not to field Titi Puryanti, last year's Srikandi Cup winner, Jamila the 1996 winner of the Kartini Cup and Ani Iman, who came third in last year behind Titi.
They are being prepared for the SEA Games golf event to be staged at Matoa Nasional from Oct. 14 to Oct. 17.
Title
"It really makes me happy by winning the trophy which is my first major title," Dewi admitted. She won the West Java Open three years ago and helped her team to a surprise victory at the 14th National Games golf competition two years ago.
Three shots behind Dewi in second place in the 54-hole competition, was Elly Mulani from JGC on 237 (82 77 78). Neneng K from PGB Bandung was third on 240 (81 80 79).
Twenty ladies golfers took part in the Srikandi Cup and another 120 players joined the fray for the Kartini Cup, being contested over 36 holes.
Cikarang Golf and Country located some 45 kilometers northeast of the capital is designed by one of Europe's golf legends, Nick Faldo from Great Britain.
Established two years ago and on trial for the last 16 months, the par-72 5,293-meter layout will be officially opened this December.
"Faldo will be here for the official opening. We hope we can organize a round of golf with the Briton as the main attraction," General Manager Michael Stewart told The Jakarta Post.
Hosting such an important event like the Indonesian Ladies Open, according to Stewart, "will help popularizing the golf course to a wider circle of golf fans."
Cikarang has so far drawn 650 members. "Three hundred and fifty of them are active members with the membership fee priced at US$25,000 for private entry. Corporate membership is priced at $35,000," Stewart said.
Results
Srikandi Cup: 234 - Dewi Suhartati (DEL) 78 78 78 237 - ELly Mulani (JGC) 82 77 78 240 - Neneng K (PGB) 81 80 79, Jane Supriadi (PIGC) 87 78 82 241 - Agustia Kaligis (MDO) 80 82 79, Diana Soewandi (JGCC) 77 84 80 245 - Murni Rusli (JGCC) 83 80 82, Sri Daud Yudarana (YANI) 82 79 84 246 - Yati Joenis (DEL) 85 80 81 255 - Khairani (DEL) 90 87 78