Takamatsu joins lead at JJGF Open C'ships

BOGOR, West Java (JP): Japanese Atsushi Takamatsu put his opening round behind him at the JJGF Open Golf Championships 2000-Epson Cup on Friday, joining overnight pacesetter Danny Chia of Malaysia at the top of the leaderboard.

Takamatsu fired five birdies for a three-under-par 69 to tie for joint first with a two-under-par 142 after two rounds. Chia who lost his form on Friday to shoot a one-over-par 73.

The Japanese golfer holed birdies at holes one and four, and added triple birdies on the back nine at holes 12, 13 and 15. He could have taken sole possession of the lead if not for his bogey at the 17th hole. His only other bogey of the day was at the 11th.

Commenting on his sloppy first day, Takamatsu said he was learning how to manage the course on Thursday, and it was evident in his play on Friday.

"It's my first time playing here so I was considering the course on Thursday, getting to know it. I couldn't take any risks by attacking the course. Who knew what was waiting for me," he told The Jakarta Post in the clubhouse.

"I kept playing carefully on Friday with a lot of patience. It's very important to be patient in golf," added Takamatsu.

It was a reversal of fortune for Chia, whose birdie at hole five could not offset his numerous bogeys in an error-filled round.

Maan Nasim, who shared the first-round lead on Thursday with Chia, shot an even poorer round. After his three-under-par 69 on Thursday, the Indonesian shot a four-over-par 76 on Friday.

Meanwhile, amateur golfers from the Jagorawi Blue Camp continued to dominated the amateur division of the tournament.

Although he shot a nine-over-par 81 on Friday, Ruswin Nazwir maintained his lead with a two-day total of 154. Trailing him was Suprapto, who shot a 75 on Friday.

Iin Setiawan and Amin Zarems share third place with a 159 total. Both golfers carded 80s on Thursday and 79s on Friday.

After Friday's round, only 22 professional and 12 amateur golfers survived the cut for the final rounds on Saturday and Sunday. (nvn)

Leading scores (Indonesian unless stated, a- denotes amateur): 142 - Atsushi Takamatsu (Jpn) 73-69, Danny Chia (Mal) 69-73 145 - Ilyassak 74-71, Maan Nasim 69-76 146 - Yasuo Sone (Jpn) 74-72 147 - Saifubahri Muda (Mal) 74-73 148 - Mardan Mamat (Sin) 75-73, Toru Kinoshita (Jpn) 74-74, Buari

74-74, Gimin Suwiryo 72-76, Tsuneyuki Naka (Jpn) 72-76,

Sukamdi 70-78 149 - Putu Dipta 75-74, Sumarno 74-75, P. Gunasagaran (Mal) 72-77

M. Rashid Ismail (Ma) 72-77 151 - Sanusi 77-74, Denny Supriadi 76-75, Stephen Atako-Lindskog

(Swe) 73-78 152 - M. Anto Tohir 78-74, Kasiyadi 76-76, Tatsuya Kihara (Jpn)

76-76