Sanusi breaks c'ship record to take JJGF Open title

BOGOR (JP): Indonesian golfer Sanusi claimed his first title on Sunday by winning the Rp 200 million (US$18,350) Japan Jagorawi Golf Foundation (JJGF) Open Golf Championship with a record final score of two-under-par 286.

"I am very happy because this is my first championship title since I turned pro in 1994. I'm very surprised because I didn't even think I could win today," Sanusi said during a media conference following the tournament.

"I was just playing safe because I didn't prepare very well for the championship," said Sanusi, who received more than Rp 39.16 million for his victory.

Sanusi had a shaky start to his final round with a bogey at the par-four sixth hole, but he managed to get the shot back with a birdie at the par-five eighth. He finished the front nine at even par.

On the back nine, Sanusi had birdies at the 10th and 14th holes but lost these two shots with bogeys at the 15th and 16th. But he steadied himself and shot birdies at the par-four 17th and the par-four 18th for a final round score of two-under-par 70.

Sanusi celebrated on the 18th green after securing the title with a record score.

He is the first golfer to finish the tournament at under par, a testament to the challenging course at the Jagorawi Golf and Country Club.

The three previous winners, Buari in 1998, Maan Nasim in 1999 and Atsushi Takamatsu of Japan in 2000, all won the title with even-par 288s.

Tied for second place in this year's tournament with a final score of two-over-par 290 were Kasiyadi and Danny Chia of Malaysia, who led the foreign contingent.

Chia opened his final round with a one-over-par 37 on the front nine. He was able to shoot a one-under-par 35 on the back nine, but it was not nearly enough to put any pressure on Sanusi.

Kasiyadi's hope for victory ended with a three-over-par 39 on the front nine, though he was able to secure a tie for second with an even-par 36 on the back nine.

The efforts of Indonesia's top golfer Maan Nasim were well appreciated by the crowd. Maan shot a respectable 15-over-par 303 with rounds of 75-77-77-74 despite fighting a bout of typhoid.

Meanwhile, national amateur players being groomed for the Kuala Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian Games dominated the amateur contingent.

Overnight coleader Iin Setiawan finished as the top amateur with a 16-over-par 304 after firing a three-over-par 75 in Sunday's final round. Inam Zarems, who had also had a share of the overnight lead, finished in second at 17-over-par 305 after carding a four-over-par 76 in the final round.

With his three-over-par 75 on Sunday, Suprapto finished in third with an 18-over-par 306. (nvn)

Results (Indonesian unless stated): 286 - Sanusi 74-70-72-70 290 - Danny Chia (Mal) 75-72-71-72, Kasiyadi 70-75-70-75 295 - Sumarno 74-70-73-78 297 - Tatsuya Kihara (Jpn) 75-71-75-76, Stephen Atako-Lindskog (Swe) 74-70-76-77, M. Rashid Ismail (Mal) 77-73-70-77 298 - Ilyassak 73-76-75-75 299 - M. Suzuki (Jpn) 74-78-77-70 300 - Asep Suganda 69-79-73-79