Sukamdi extends his lead in Indonesian Open golf

JAKARTA (JP): Sukamdi, Indonesia's best hope for the 19th SEA Games golf competition, extended his lead at the Indonesian Open Championship after carding a two-day total of 143 (70 73) at Pondok Indah Golf & Club here yesterday.

The Medan-born Sukamdi kept his lead by one stroke when he closed yesterday's round with 1-over 73 (37 36) coming from two birdies and three bogeys in the front nine. He bogeyed the 3rd after making two pars on the first two holes and shot another bogey on the 5th.

He birdied the next two holes 6th and 7th thanks to fine drives before slumping to another bogey putt and went out with a 1-over 37 after a par shot at the 9th.

Going toward the clubhouse the long hitting Sukamdi, a veteran on the national amateur scene for over 15 years, carded an even par-36 coming from one birdie and one bogey for a 1-over 73, three shots behind his first day score on Tuesday.

Jemin Saputra, also on Indonesia's SEA Games team, was placed second with a 144 (72 72) coming from a birdie putt on the 6th and eight pars. He went home with a 1-over 37 after making a deficit put on the 13th for a bogey.

Bunched at third place, each with a 146, were four players including three SEA Games players. They were A. Indra (75 71), Sarmili (71 75), Denny Supriadi (72 74) and non-SEA Games player Asep S (72 74).

Denny played a pivotal role in helping Indonesia win the Putra Cup men's team title at Bumi Serpong Damai in 1993.

The Putra Cup is one of Asia's most prestigious men's team amateur championships. It was named after Malaysia's first Prime Minister Tengku Abdulrahman Putra.

Twenty players continued play yesterday from the original 60 golfers. They won the right to continue until Friday, the final day of the annual event sanctioned by the Indonesian Golf Association.

The event is the final official competition for Indonesia's 19th SEA Games golf team before it fights against opponents from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar, Brunei Darussalam at the Games.

The SEA Games golf competition will be played at Matoa Nasional in southern Jakarta from Oct. 14 to Oct. 17.

There will be men's team and individual events and women's team and individual events.

Four gold medals will be up for grabs. (rsl)

Selected results: 143 - Sukamdi (70 73) 144 - Jamin Saputra (72 72) 146 - A. Indra (75 71), Sarmili (71 75), Denny Supriadi (72 74), Asep S (72 74) 147 - Ruswin Nasir (72 75) 150 - Nasin (77 73), Dana Mahmud (74 76) 151 - Poniri (78 73) 152 - Abdul Rohim (76 76) 156 - Arman Aziz (79 77)