Takamatsu wins Epson Cup
JAKARTA (JP): Atsushi Takamatsu of Japan emerged the winner of the Rp 270 million JJGF Open Golf Championships 2000 - Epson Cup which closed on a sour note as most of the field failed to par on Sunday.
Takamatsu, who led the pack over the last two rounds, carded a three-over par 75 for a total par 288 and the top Rp 60 million cash prize.
But the Japanese had an excuse for his error-ridden play which saw him hit four bogeys on the old course of the Jagorawi Golf and Country Club, known for its narrow fairways and sloping terrain.
"The old course is really difficult to play. It gave me a lot of experience which I believe will be useful for me in the next session of the Japan Professional Golf Association (JPGA) Tour," he said during the prize presentation.
Anto Tohir of Indonesia was the only golfer out of the 22- strong field to best the par 72 on Sunday with one-under, but he had to settle for fifth place, 11 strokes behind Takamatsu.
Defending champion Maan Nasim shared the second spot with another Japanese golfer, Yasuo Sone, trailing behind the winner by five strokes.
Despite the second-place finish, Maan, who is Rp 25 million richer now, moves to the top of the prize money list in the Indonesian Golf Association Tour with Rp 78 million.
Overnight joint leader Ilyassak played as if he was a beginner, scoring 15-over par 87 -- the worst among the field -- to slump to joint-sixth place with fellow Indonesian Gimin Suwiryo.
Takamatsu, who is ranked in the 100s in the JPGA Tour, embarked on a promising start with a birdie at hole three. His error-prone game began at hole eight, when he sank a bogey. He tallied three more bogeys in the final four holes.
Ilyassak began his bogey-full game with a double bogey at the first hole. He made another double bogey at hole eight and two more bogeys at holes seven and nine. Back to the clubhouse, the tally of bogeys grew by three at holes 10, 15 and 16.
"I had enough sleep last night so I was in top form, perhaps better than usual. Strangely, I usually play well if I don't have enough sleep," he said.
In the amateurs camp, Suprapto retained his title with a total score of 305. Firing four-over-par 76, he produced two bogeys at holes five and eight and a double bogey at hole six in the first nine.
He had a comeback at hole 13 with a birdie, but hit another bogey at hole 16 for an even par back nine.
Suprapto, a member of the national team, led his closest rival and teammate Indra Hermawan by two strokes. (nvn)
Selected final scores (Indonesian unless stated): 288 - Akasushi Takamatsu (Jpn) 73-69-71-75 295 - Yasuo Sone (Jpn) 74-72-75-74, Maan Nasim 69-76-71-79 296 - Toru Kinosita (Jpn) 74-74-77-71, Kasiyadi 76-76-70-74 298 - Danny Chia (Mal) 69-73-83-73, P. Gunasagaran (Mal) 72-77-74-75 299 - M. Anto Tohir 78-74-77-70 300 - Gimin Suwiryo 72-76-76-76, Ilyassak 74-71-68-87 302 - Tsuneyuki Naka (Jpn) 72-76-79-75