Maan retains Matoa Open lead despite bad round

Maan retains Matoa Open lead despite bad round

JAKARTA (JP): Despite playing a poor round yesterday, Maan
Naasim from the Sawangan golf club retained his four-stroke lead
after a two-under-par 70 with a 137 (67 70) at the Matoa Nasional
Open championships yesterday.

It was rising young amateur star Denny Supriadi, also from
Sawangan, who stole the show yesterday when he carded a 5-under
par 67, comprising seven marvelous birdies and only a single
bogey.

The 20-year-old Denny, who played a pivotal role in helping
Indonesia win the men's golf team title at the 19th SEA Games
contested at the same layout, completed the front nine in a
bogey-free 33. He fired birdies at the 1st, 3rd, 8th and 9th.

He came home with birdies at the 12th, 15th and 17th, and a
his single bogey at the 400-meter par-4 11th, to make his day's
round 67 and his two-round aggregate 142 (75 67). This left him
in fourth place.

Alex Junaidi from Jakarta Golf Club also carded a 67 which
came from six birdies, on the 3rd, 7th, 8th, 13th, 17th and 18th,
and a single bogey, on the par 4, 414m 5th.

His splendid effort took him to 141 for the first two rounds
and second place overall, together with veteran clubmate Ilyasaak
who made a 70 yesterday, behind leader Maan.

Ilyasaak, who together with 15 Indonesian professionals
including Maan, and Kasiadi, will play at the US$300,000 Tugu
Pratama Omega Tour event next month at Bumi Serpong Damai, played
the front nine holes in 1-over 37 after bogeying the 5th.

Looking unhappy with the results, he charged home over the
second half of the 6,402-meter layout, with three birdie putts,
an eagle at the par-5 503-meter 18th, and a bogey at the 12th.

Kasiadi, who is 31st on the Omega Tour after joining it last
August, could not find his form yesterday and only managed to
finish with a 72 for a 143 (71 72).

"I wonder why I could not control my putting after two days of
play. I have made so many miserable putts these two days,"
Kasiadi told The Jakarta Post.

In addition to the 16 Indonesians, at least 10 of Asia's top
golfers, including Jeev Singh of India, Zaw Moe of Myanmar,
Prayat Marksaeng of Thailand and Park No-seok of South Korea,
will also compete in the Tugu Pratama championship, which became
a part of the Omega Tour last year. The Tour is currently in New
Delhi, India.

Kasiadi has become one of the richest Indonesian golfers since
joining the Omega Tour, bagging some US$48,000. He made golf
history in this country when he won the 1989 Indonesian Open,
which is now one of the Omega Tour's regular events.

From today the original field of 65 local pros will be reduced
to 20 players plus those tied at 152. These will fight for the Rp
50 million (US$14,000) prize maoney on offer. There will be 15
players in the amateur event. (rsl)

Selected results:
137 - Maan Naasim (67 70)
141 - Alex Junaidi, Ilyasaak
142 - Denny Supriadi (Amateur)
143 - Kasiadi, Eddy Sembiring
145 - Stephen A-Lindskog, Sudihartono
148 - Jemin Saputra (amateur)
149 - Asep Capri, Sarmili