Sukamdi wins Indonesian Open by 13 strokes
JAKARTA (JP): Unchallenged since the tee-off Tuesday, Sukamdi re-affirmed his position as the top national golfer yesterday by reclaiming the Indonesian Amateur Open golf title by 13 strokes.
He closed the round with a 4-under 68 for 281 (70 73 70 68).
Sukamdi fired six fine birdies against two bogeys which was more than enough to outclass his SEA Games teammates, Denny Supriadi, Dana Mahmud, Jemin Saputra, Sarmili and Ahmad Indra.
Denny, Sarmili and non-SEA Games golfer Nasin each carded a 294 but after a countback it was Sarmili (71 75 75 73) who came out the runner-up, and Nasin (77 73 71 74) was the number three finisher.
It was Sukamdi's second major title in two weeks.
He won the Singapore Open individual title on Sept. 14 and helped Indonesia take the men's team title with Denny.
They defeated Thailand by three strokes, and Taiwan by three shots further back with a 429.
Sukamdi's 68 could have been much better had he not missed a putt from one meter to par at the final hole.
"I lost a bit of my concentration when executing my putt," Sukamdi said.
The Medan-based player who started playing golf when he was 17 said: "Actually when I played in Singapore and won the title I was a bit worried about my number two son who was hospitalized for a small incident at home.
His four-year-old son's left middle finger had to be amputated after it was crushed by a sliding gate at home.
"I had an uncomfortable feeling during my stay in Singapore for the game. But my wife kept the incident secret until I finished the competition."
"I hope", added Sukamdi, "the unlucky incident my son suffered will turn into a lucky result for our golf SEA Games team."
Golf competition in the SEA Games will be contested at Matoa Nasional layout on the southern outskirts of the capital.
The Indonesian Golf Association submitted a Rp 214 million budget the SEA Games golf competition but the organizing committee only approved a budget of Rp 25 million.
"So far we have received no more Rp 3 million from the consortium. But we have decided to go ahead as planned whether we get money from them or not," said IGA executive chairman Muhammad Bob Hasan.
Ladies Open
Meanwhile, IGA yesterday announced it would hold the annual Indonesian Ladies Amateur championship at Cikarang golf course some 40 kilometers northeast of Jakarta from Oct. 1 to Oct. 3.
A huge field of 152 golfers will compete in the three-day event, vying for the Srikandi Cup which will be contested over 54 holes and the Kartini Cup which will be played over 36 holes.
Almost at the same time a championship for junior golfers will be contested at Bandung's Giri Gahana Golf and Country Club from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.
It will be the sixth junior championship series organized by the Association of Indonesian Golf Champions sponsored by Panasia Group.
Twenty-eight young golfers will compete in the tournament in Bandung. They are the best of the 53 players who played in the first five competitions of the 10-leg circuit. Taman Dayu in East Java, held the fifth event of the circuit. (rsl)
Selected results: 281 - Sukamdi 70 73 70 68 294 - Sarmili 71 75 75 73, Nasin 77 73 71 73, Denny Supriadi 72 74 74 74 295 - A. Indra 75 71 72 77, Ruswin Nasir 72 75 77 71 297 - Dana Mahmud 74 76 73 74 298 - Asep S 72 74 76 76