Overnight leaders extend gains at golf tournament

Robert Soelistyo, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite shooting disappointing par 72s in Thursday's third round of the 9th Damai Indah-Panin Bank Asean Junior Golf Championships, the two overnight leaders in the A Division lengthened their lead atop the leaderboard.

Amin Zarens (71 68 72), representing the Jagorawi Golf Club, and Michael Song (68 71 72) from Jakarta's Aspirarsi 8 Club maintained their shared lead after carding identical 72s, giving them a three-day total of 211.

Eight strokes behind the two leaders of the A Division, for golfers between the ages of 15 and 17, was Sucipto with a 219 (75 74 70).

In scorching heat which reached 35 degrees Centigrade at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Damai Indah Golf and Country Club in Tangerang, Banten, only five players shot under par on Thursday.

In the Special Division for golfers between the ages of 18 and 21, division leader Alga Topan of the PCB Club shot a magnificent 3-under 69 (35 34), giving him a three-day total of 215 (74 72 69).

After opening his round with a bogey on the par 4 1st hole, Alga went on to fire birdies at the 2nd, 8th, 13th and 18th, which is the longest hole on the course.

The scenic golf link was designed by one of the world's leading golfer American Jack Nicklaus and located some 25 kilometers west of the capital.

Alga, a student at Untar University, said the championships were a final tune-up for the Indonesian Amateur Open next week at the Taman Dayu Golf Club in East Java.

"First, I want to retain the title I won here last year. If I do that I will be able to play the Indonesian Open with more confidence," Alga said.

Seven strokes behind Alga is Hendry Nasim, who also carded a 69 on Thursday for a three-day total of 222 (81 72 69). Eleven strokes further back is Toniko Basuki at 233 (79 78 76).

The annual tournament was first organized 1983 for local young golfers which was then opened for youngsters coming from the Asean member countries since last year.