RI leads Putra Cup by five shots
RI leads Putra Cup by five shots
TANGERANG, West Java (JP): With flawless play around the
greens at the par-72 Bumi Serpong Damai course, Sukamdi put
Indonesia five shots ahead in the opening round of the 34th Putra
Cup men's amateur team golf championship.
The normally tough course, designed by golf-legend Jack
Nicklaus, practically laid down and played dead in front of
Sukamdi's onslaught, whose torrid pace from the get-go left the
pack far behind.
Indonesia's top gun fired six birdies in a bogey-free round of
66 (32, 34) to put Indonesia well clear of its closest
challengers.
"I just kept on charging from the onset with the hope of
taking the lead," said Sukamdi after emphasizing his immaculate
round with his sixth birdie at the 18th.
The Putra Cup veteran made his other five birdies at the
second hole, a 380-meter par-4, at the par-5 fourth, par-5 eighth
and at the twelfth.
Three strokes behind the leader was teammate Bahtiar at 69. He
birdied the twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth and eighteenth. At
the par-4 399-meter ninth, Bahtiar, also a cup veteran, faltered
with a bogey. He avoided trouble the rest of the way for a 3-
under 69.
Dana Mahmud was the third best scorer for Indonesia at even
par, giving the team a 54 hole total of 207, which gave Indonesia
the five shot lead. Denny Supriadi's 77 was not included in the
scoring, as only the best three are counted.
Nine teams including host Indonesia are taking part in the
prestigious amateur event vying for the trophy named after the
first Malaysian Prime Minister Tungku Abdul Rahman Putra.
The eight other teams are Brunei Darussalam, Hong Kong,
Malaysian, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore and
Thailand.
Thailand, which like Indonesia has won the Cup four times, was
in second place with a 212 (69, 71, 72).
Nawin Suwakanas led Thailand with a fine 3-under 69 (34, 35),
and was tied with Bahtiar (37, 32) among individual scorers.
Veteran Preecha Senaprom concluded yesterday's round with a
one-under 71 (35, 36) and fellow countryman Somchai Sophin
finished on par (35, 37).
Filipinos
Third were the Filipinos, Asian powerhouses in the sport and
who have dominated the event, winning the coveted cup a record 15
times, who finished at 215 (70, 72, 73).
Antonio Lascuna headed the Philippines by carding a 70 (34,
36) and shared third place in the individual event with Hong
Kong's David Tonroe (36 34). Melvin Eso finished even (35 37) and
Ruben Sasutil had the 73 (40, 33).
The Putra Cup is being played over 72 holes and is scheduled
to wind up on Friday.
Today the cream of Asian amateur golfers continues with the
second round, which also marks the tee-off for the 14th Sirikit
Cup for women.
The women's competition will be played over 54 holes and will
also conclude on Friday.
Twelve teams from the Asia-Pacific region are expecting to
take part in the annual event whose cup is named after the Queen
of Thailand.
They are Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan,
South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore and
Sri Lanka. (rsl).
Results
Team
1. 207 - Indonesia
2. 212 - Thailand
3. 215 - Philippines
Hong Kong
5. 219 - Malaysia
6. 220 - Singapore
7. 230 - Myanmar
8. Papua New Guinea
9. 243 - Brunei Darussalam
Individual (selected)
1 66 - Sukamdi (Ina)
2 69 - Bahtiar (Ina)
Newin Suwakanas (Tha)
4 70 - David Tonroe (HK)
Antonio Lascuna (Phi)
6 71 - Lam Chin Bing (Sin)
Michael Grant (HK)
Preecha Senaprom (Tha)
9 72 - Dana Mahmud (Ina)
Wong Hung Nung (Mal)
Melvin Eso (Phi)
Somchai Sophim (Tha)