RI to send golfers to World Junior C'ship

JAKARTA (JP): Four junior Indonesian golfers, who regularly compete in the World Junior Championships in San Diego, U.S.A., will again represent their country at the prestigious event next month.

The four golfers are Indra Hermawan, Alga Topan, Iin Setyawan and Hendrik, all from Tangerang's Pondok Cabe golf club. For the last four years they have been among the best 10 to 20 world junior golfers.

They will be among 71 juniors who will tee off at the 1997 BSD Junior Open Cup today at the par-72 Damai Indah Golf and Country Club.

The four-day annual junior championship has six categories; four for boys and two for girls. The boys categories are Class A for boys aged 15 to 17 years, Class B (12 to 14 years) Class C (11 years and younger) and Special Division (18 to 21 years). The girls division are Class A (17 years and younger) and Special Division (18 to 21 years).

"It's a pity that for the Special Division for girls no one has registered yet," committee official Charlie Pelupesy said yesterday.

He said "most Indonesian girls 18 years or older are afraid of sports being contested under the direct sun light. They are afraid of getting dark skin and that makes it hard to attract young women golfers."

The junior championships, which ends Friday, is jointly sponsored by national carrier Garuda Indonesia, Bank Jaya and Indosat.

The championships will be a tryout for golfers who will take part in the world championships in San Diego from July 15 to July 18.

After the BSD Junior Open, they and 100 junior golfers will compete in the Tugu Pratama Junior Open at Matoa National Golf Club from July 8 to July 11, which is the last tournament before going to San Diego.

"The BSD Open is organized to give local young hopefuls the opportunity to experience a golf tournament using the same format and organization as international tournaments for adults," committee vice chairman Inyo W.H. Parera said. (rsl)