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)