Sweden's Gottmo wins Indonesia Ladies Open

JAKARTA (JP): Sweden's Asa Gottmo confirmed Scandinavia's golfing supremacy after carding 3-under-par 69 yesterday at the Kosaido Ladies Asia Golf Circuit at the Pondok Cabe Golf and Country Club, Tangerang.

The 25-year-old Gottmo birdied the first, fourth and eighth of the first nine. In the back nine, she carded two birdies at the 15th and 18th holes, but made two bogeys at the 5th and 16th.

Gottmo took the lead on the opening day of the US$100,000 tournament, in which 70 golfers from 19 countries are participating.

Compatriot Petra Rigby Jinglov, who has just won the Malaysia Open, finished third after carding 2-under-par 70.

Japan's Mika Ishijima scored 2-under-par 70 by producing five birdies and two bogeys to finish second. Malaysian Lim Siew Ai also scored 70 after carding four birdies in hole 1, hole 2, hole 3 and hole 18, but bogeyed hole 8 and hole 13.

Scandinavian golfers, specially Swedes, dominated the Asia circuit after Pernila Sterner won the Philippines Open and Sofie Gustafsson finished on top at the Thailand Open.

Sweden is known as a country which consistently grooms all its athletes, including golfers. Swedish golfers have recently begun to dominate professional golf in both the United States and Europe.

Annika Sorrenstam and Liselotte Neumann, for example, are currently ranked among the best five golfers in the world. Sweden's Sofia Gronberg won the 1989 Indonesia Ladies Open. (yan)

Results: 69 - Asa Gottmo (Swe) 34-35, 70 - Mika Ishijima (Jpn) 36-34; Petra R Jinglov (Swe) 35-35; Lim Siew Ai (Mal) 34-36, 71 - Shelly Rule (USA) 36-35; Mary Grace Estuesta (Phi) 36-35, 72 - Wendy Dicks (Gbr) 37-35; Debbie Dowling (Gbr) 37-35; Pernilla Sterner (Swe) 36-36; Lara Tadiotto (Bel) 36-36