Maan's lucky 67 comes up trumps again, in Batam

Maan's lucky 67 comes up trumps again, in Batam

BATAM, Riau (JP): Maan Naasim from Sawangan Golf Club in
southern Jakarta took a two-shot opening-round lead in the
US$50,000 Tering Bay Open Golf Championship with a 5-under 67 (34
33) here yesterday.

Sixty-seven seems to be a lucky number for the 37-year-old
Maan, who last week carded an identical 67 in the first round of
the Matoa Nasional Open in Jakarta, which he went on to win with
a total score of 279.

"I hope this will be a good signal for me to win this
championships as part of my preparation for the Johnnie Walker
Super Tour next month in Jakarta," Maan told The Jakarta Post.

In the Super Tour he will challenge some of the world's best
players, including Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, and Ian Woosnam in a
fight for $350,000 in cash prizes.

Playing a faultless round and firing five fine birdies on the
2nd, 5th, 12th, 15th and 17th and 13 even pars, was more then
enough for Maan to take command on the opening day of the four-
day event.

Two strokes behind is Surabaya Yani Golf Club member Buari.
His 69 (37 32) came from four subtle birdies on the back nine.

"I made a mistake with my uncontrolled putting on the third
hole and was punished with a bogey," complained Buari. But going
back to the club house, a gritty Buari seemed totally in control,
particularly when playing his birdie putts.

One shot further back at 70 (36 34) is leading Malaysian
golfer Perriasamy Gunasagaran, who shot one birdie and one bogey
in the front nine and birdied the 11th and 16th for a 2-under 34.

"I found the course very good and I like to play here though
haze is hanging around high above the course," the Malaysian
golfer said. "This is my first time here."

In joint third place was Jemin Saputra, one of Indonesia's
winning men's team in the just-concluded SEA Games in Jakarta. He
took the lead in the amateur event.

Jemin holed two birdies, on the 1st and 7th, against a bogey
on the 3rd for an outward 35. He went home with two birdies and a
bogey for another 35.

All four members of the SEA Games team are playing here. Dana
Mahmud took a 71 (34 37) but Indonesia's most seasoned amateur
player, Sukamdi, perhaps playing too relaxed, finished with a 75.
Denny Supriadi, the fourth player in the SEA Games team also made
a poor 75.

Champions

The four champions of the country's major events, Maan, Burhan
Bora, Stephen A. Lindskog and Kasiadi are all here fighting for
the honors.

Maan was the champion at Matoa Nasional Open last week, Burhan
won the Prasidha East Java Open at Ciputra Golf and Country Club
in Surabaya, the Swedish Nigerian-born Lindskog was the winner of
the Bali Open at Bali Golf and Country Club last July while
Kasiadi was the Bukit Dermo Inter-club champion at Bukit Darmo in
Surabaya last March.

Kasiadi, who leads the money league with $48,500 after joining
the Omega Asian Tour, however, yesterday played a lousy round. He
only managed to finish with a poor 1-over 73 (35 38). He again
blamed his poor putting.

"I don't know why, after playing many relatively good rounds
during my Omega Tour abroad, back home I seem like I'm losing my
touch when it comes to putting," a disgusted Kasiadi, who in 1987
made Indonesian golf history by becoming the first local player
to win the Indonesian Open.

About 120 golfers are taking part, 19 of whom come from
neighboring Singapore, eight from Malaysia and two from Thailand.
(rsl)

Selected results:
67 - Maan Naasin (Ina) 34 33
69 - Buari (Ina) 37 32
70 - P. Gunasagaran (Mal) 36 34, Jemin Saputra (Am Ina) 35 35
71 - Burhan Bora (Ina) 34 37, Hamzah Rahmadi (Ina) 33 38, Dana
Mahmud (Am Ina) 34 37, Junaidi Alex (Ina) 36 35, Stephen A.
Lindskog (Swe) 35 36, Khalid Yusof (Sin) 37 34
72 - Andrew Morrow (Aus) 36 36, Bill Fung (Sin) 36 36, Ajin
Sophon (Tha) 37 35, Muhammad Din (Mal) 39 33
73 - Kasiadi (Ina) 35 38