Veteran golfer takes early lead to East Java Open
Veteran golfer takes early lead to East Java Open
By Robert Soelistyo
SURABAYA (JP): Veteran Jakarta golfer Ilyasak took an early
two-stroke lead in the Prasidha East Java Open championship
yesterday as favorites got off to poor starts at the Citra Raya
Golf and Country Club here.
The par-72 course, designed by world renowned American
designer Andy Dye, got the thumb ups from players who described
the course as "very good" and "quite challenging".
Home favorite Kasiadi, who played in the Sabah Masters and
Singapore Open last week, both part of the Asia Omega PGA Tour,
was equal second with the Makasar Golf Club's Bahtiar Sanja, on
an even 72.
"The poor putting jinx has given me poor results," Kasiadi
said of his three consecutive bogey putts on the 15th, 16th and
17th holes for a total of 38 on the back nine.
The 37-year-old Kasiadi said the course was excellent and much
better than the layouts in Sabah and Singapore.
Kasiadi came second in the Sabah Masters and tied for fourth
in the Singapore Open which ended last Sunday at the Jurong
course.
He and Maan Naasim are representing Indonesia for part of Asia
Omega Tour.
"I promise to play better in the next rounds," Kasiadi said
after putting practice at Citra Raya yesterday.
The beautiful course was overcrowded as about 180 golfers,
only 64 of them pros, took to the course.
Players who teed off from tee box number 10 said their play
was slow because many of the groups in front of them were female
amateurs.
Australian Patrick Young, a teaching pro at the Taman Dayu
gold course said "I think 180 players fielded in such an
important tournament is too many because there are scores of pros
vying for the cash prizes on offer".
It took many groups more than the usual four hours to get
through the course and several of the amateur groups were told to
leave the field because of darkness.
They will resume this morning and will tee off at 6 a.m.
Admiral (ret) Sudomo opened the annual event which is
sanctioned by the Indonesia Golf Association.
The tournament, which ends Saturday, offers cash prizes of Rp
75 million (US$25,000).
Popularizing golf
The Prasidha Group, which owns PT Aneka Coffee Industry, is
the tournament's major sponsor.
Last year the tournament was not held because a sponsor could
not be found.
The company's senior VP director, Sjamsel B. Uding, said "we
are organizing this championship as part of our efforts to help
popularize golf in East Java. With this competition being played
at Citra Raya, one of East Java's best courses, I believe an
Asian PGA Tour can be hosted here soon".
Sweden's Stephen Lindskog, who won last May's Bali Open at the
Bali Golf and Country Club, was a shot further behind for joint
third place with a 73 (35 38). Other players in third place were
Ahmad from Jakarta and Asep Capri from Bumi Serpong Damai.
Results:
70 - Ilyasak (JGC) 34 36
72 - Buari (YGC) 36 36, Bahtiar Sanja (MGC) 36 36, Kasiadi (YGC)
34 38, Kamin Jaya (Ancol)
73 - Stephen A Lindskog (Swe) 35 38, Ahmad, Asep Capri
74 - M Said (Pegas Golf Club)
75 - Surisman
76 - Budiono (YGC), Endang Supriatna (HGC), Douglas Hood (Aus),
Sudihartono (HGC) and Suwarno (BDGC)
77 - Gimin Suwiryo (PIGC), Burhan Bora (MGC)