Maan wins Tering Bay Open by ten shots

BATAM ISLAND, Riau (JP): Practically unchallenged since teeing off on Tuesday, pretournament favorite Maan Naasim justified his top-billing when he won the US$50,000 Tering Bay Open Golf Championship here yesterday with a 12-under-par 276 (67 70 69 70).

The victory was Maan's second in successive weeks after a two- year title drought until the Matoa Open in Jakarta which gave him the needed morale boost to play better here in Batam. He took home $13,050 for his efforts, his biggest single prize ever.

The 37-year-old Maan from Sawangan Golf Club near Jakarta, began the round with birdie putts on the 5th and 8th holes against a bogey putt on the 7th for an outward 35. He followed this with a birdie on the 16th on his way back to the clubhouse for another 35.

"The two wins hopefully will push me to play even better when I play in the Johnnie Walker Super Tour next month at the Emeralda course," Maan said.

He was selected to play for Indonesia in the Super Tour to be played in four countries against the world's top-rated golfers, including Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, Ian Woosnam and top players from the Philippines and Thailand.

The four countries which will host this year's Super Tour are Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Chinese Taiper.

Three players, Kasiadi, Stephen A. Lindskog and Chua Guan Soon of Singapore, were bunched in joint second place on 284.

Kasiadi, the richest local golfer after successful appearances in the Asian Omega Tour, had to be content with sharing second place after carding a 71 (35 36) yesterday.

"Maan deserved the victory after his good form since the Matoa Open. I hope he can play even better in the next major events," Kasiadi said.

In fifth, on 285, was Perriasamy Gunasagaran of Malaysia, after carding a 71 yesterday.

In the amateur event the race for top honors remained with golfers being groomed for major international events.

As expected, the youngest of the SEA Games team, Denny Supriadi, won the event with 288 (76 68 73 71). He was followed by veteran amateur player Sukamdi who carded a four-day score of 289 (75 72 72 70). Third was Dana Mahmud with 295 (71 73 75 76).

"This will be the second last amateur competition I play in. After the Aceh Open next week I will try my luck on the pro scene. I think being an amateur player for more than 14 years was enough for me to change by the beginning of next year," Dana told The Jakarta Post

To officially mark the end of the championship, Tering Bay Golf and Country Club, designed by the living golf legend Greg Norman of Australia, today hosts a pro-am tournament offering $5,000 for the pros. (rsl)

Selected results: 276 - Maan Naasim (Ina) 67 79 69 70 284 - Kasiadi (Ina) 73 69 71 71, Stephen A Lindskog (Swe) 71 75 70 68, Chua Guan Soon (Sin) 74 73 67 70 285 - M Murugiah (Sin) 76 70 68 71 287 - Burhan Bora (Ina) 71 73 69 74, Bahtiar Sanja (Ina) 74 72 73 68, P Gunasagaran (Mal) 70 72 77 68 288 - Denny Supriadi (Ina Am) 76 68 73 71 289 - Sukamdi (Ina Am) 75 72 72 70