East Java and East Kalimantan rule in golf

Tue, 07/15/2008 10:36 AM | Sports

East Java won the men's team event and host East Kalimantan won the women's team event in the National Games golf competition at Pertamina Golf Course here Monday.

Indonesia's No. 1 amateur golfer, Andik, who paired up with veteran pro Suprapto to play for East Java, made a flurry of bogeys and fewer birdies in the second round to card 3-over-par 75.

But since rolling in 5-under 67 in the first round, they shared a 2-under 142 lead with the Jakarta pair, Teddy J and Rizal Arya.

Andik and Suprapto denied the Jakarta team the gold medal after winning the play-off round.

Claiming the bronze medal were hosts Harjito and Sudirman, who made amends by racing to finish third from 12th in the first round.

Fireworks for East Kalimantan came from its unheralded women golfers Ani Iman and Rani Ardelia, who grabbed the gold medal after firing 5-over-par 149.

Rising from fourth place in the first round, Ani and Rani improved their teamwork to post 2-under 70 in the second round, an improvement of 7-over 79 in the first round.

"I'm very happy to win this gold for my home team," old hand Ani told The Jakarta Post.

"I know we were not the favorites, but we tried to stay calm and maintain our composure. That's our key to winning today's competition," added Ani, who has played in the past three quadrennial events.

Ani will pair up with Suhardiman to play in the mixed team event, and Rani will team up with Benita Yuniarto on Tuesday.

"I will play my best tomorrow," Ani said.

Jakartans Agnes Retno Sujasmin and Juriah grabbed silver with a 6-over 150, while East Javans Lidya Ivana Djaya and Andani earned bronze with 8-over 152.

-- JP/Nurni Sulaiman

Comments (0) | Post comment

A | A | A |