UN golf event nets Rp 1b for charity

JAKARTA (JP): A golf tournament held yesterday to mark the United Nations' 51st anniversary at Matoa Golf Course, South Jakarta, raised more than Rp 1 billion (US$431,000) for charity.

The funds, collected by the Indonesian Forestry Society and from the auction of one of President Soeharto's clubs, were donated to the National Fosterparents Drive, chaired by Soeharto's daughter-in-law Halimah Bambang Trihatmodjo.

With a bid of Rp 5 million ($2,119), Indonesian Ambassador to Germany Hartono Martodiredjo took home a club bearing the President's signature in an auction following the 18-hole golf tournament. The bidding was opened by the United Kingdom Ambassador to Indonesia Graham Burton with US$100.

Twelve members of the Jakarta Ambassador's Golf Association (JAGA) were among the 114 participants in the charity tournament teed off by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas under cloudy skies.

Alatas was grouped with Burton, JAGA secretary-general TK Adhyatman and Dato Abdul Wahid Jalil, a representative of the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization .

Reza Pahlevi, whose handicap is 13, won the best-net-overall competition with a five-under-par 67 and took home the President's trophy.

In the men's A flight, former Indonesian ambassador to the Philippines Pieter Damanik, whose handicap is 12, won the Minister of Foreign Affairs trophy after carding a four-under par 68.

Yusar Yunin, playing off 14, won the UN trophy after producing a five-under par 67 for the men's B flight.

In the men's C flight, Richard Oh, with a handicap of 21, produced a five-under par 67 to take home the Mohammad Hasan trophy. Timber tycoon Hasan is chairman of the Indonesian Forestry Society and deputy chairman of the Indonesian Golf Association.

Tuti Sujiono, a 12-handicapper, won the United Nations Association Indonesia trophy after producing a four-under par 68.

Avie Utomo and Srihono grabbed the men's and women's longest drive prizes with 229 and 137 meters respectively. (yan)