Sukamdi leads Indonesia Open by two strokes

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