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