Sukamdi leads Indonesia Open by two strokes

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's leading amateur golfer Sukamdi took an early lead yesterday in the Indonesian Amateur Open by one shot after the first round at Pondok Indah Golf & Country Club, by carding a 2-under par-70.

Boosted by his triumph at the Singapore Amateur Open on Sept. 12 -- where he won the men's individual title with a 14-under 274 (68 66 68 72), and helped Indonesia win the team title -- he shot three birdies yesterday against a bogey for a 35 35.

He and SEA Games teammate Dana Mahmud won the men's team title in Singapore after they garnered the best score of 423, three strokes ahead of Thailand which took second place. Taiwan was third after an aggregate total of 429.

Dana finished with a poor 74 yesterday and was placed alone at fourth position.

As expected, the Indonesian SEA Games golf team dominated the opening round in what is the final official tournament for the team before the 9th SEA Games here from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.

Two strokes behind Sukamdi for second place, was another member of the SEA Games golf team, Sarmili, after he collected a 71 (38 33). He went out with a poor 2-over 38 when he bogeyed the 3rd and 8th. However, on his way home to the clubhouse he charged forward with three fine birdies on the 10th, 16th and 18th.

Joined at third place on 72 were Denny Supriadi (35 37), Jemin Saputra (37 35), Asep S (35 37) -- all members of Indonesia's SEA Games team -- and Ruswin Nasir .

Indonesia is grooming six amateurs for the SEA Games and they underwent a series of training stints and trials in Perth, Australia under leading Australian coach David Breen for seven months starting February.

Breen helped West Java win the National Games title when he coached them last year at Kedaton Golf & Country Club near here.

"When we take Sukamdi and company's success in Singapore as the gauge to check Indonesia's chance at the SEA Games, I think, we have a better chance to win the title," Breen told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

However, according to Breen, there are teams to watch for during the SEA Games. These are those from Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

Golf at the SEA Games will be contested at the par-72 Matoa Nasional Golf & Country Club on the southern edge of the capital.

As it is a relatively newly built course and unknown to golfers from many of the other participating countries, some countries have sent their golfers early to get a feel for the field. They include Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

Fifty players are competing in the four-day annual event sanctioned by the Indonesia Golf Association. The competition was officially opened by Minister of Transportation Harjanto Danutirto in his capacity as the executive chairman of IGA.

Selected results: 70 - Sukamdi 71 - Sarmili 72 - Denny Supriadi, Ruswin Nasir, Jemin Saputra, Asep S 74 - Dana Mahmud 75 - Eric Yunus 76 - Abdul Rohim, Fadjar 77 - Nasin, Eddy Soleh 78 - Johnny Sudjana, Poniri 79 - Arman Aziz, Mansyur Tandiono