Prominent local golfers take lead at 55th PP Cup

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Prominent local golfers took the lead of the Rp 150 million (US$19,500) 5th Pemuda Pancasila Cup with Asep Capri at the head of the field after carding a 5-under 67 (32 35) on Tuesday.

Played in fine weather at the par-72 Matoa Nasional Golf Club in southeast Jakarta, Asep played aggressively to conquer the challenging layout designed by Peter Thompson in 1966.

"I played today's round defiantly in my efforts to control the game. I'm glad I managed to do it, but for tomorrow I will cool it a bit and try my best to keep the lead," Asep, from the Damai Indah Golf Club in Jakarta, said after Tuesday's round.

Asep fired two birdies and an eagle on the front nine.

Two shots back was Asep's teammate Dana Mahmud with a round of 69 (35 34) to share second with leading Indonesian golfer Maan Naasim (34 35) from Sawangan Golf Club, near Bogor.

One stroke further back for third place were a bunch of five home greater Jakarta golfers. They were Ilyassyak (36 34) from Tangerang, Chairul Chan (35 35), Indra Hermawan (35 35), Jamel Ondi (33 37) and Wahyu Hendrawan (33 37).

More than 102 golfers, including seniors and amateurs, were in the field as only 30 pros, who survived the cut after Wednesday's second round have the right to vie for the cash prize.

In the amateur event Rizal Arya from the Jakarta Golf Club,, who won the 4th PGPI (The Indonesian Association of Professional Golfers) Tour last month, took the lead after closing the round with a 1-under 71 (35 36). John Tjahjadi fro the Tangerang Golf Club was second with a 72 (37 35) together with Irwansyah from Matoa Nasional Golf with a 35 and 37.