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