Golfers set to tee off at RI Open despite wet course

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 02/14/2008 11:56 AM | Headlines

Despite the capital's reputation for floods and more floods, some 150 golfers have lined up for the US$1.2 million Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open 2008, set to tee off Thursday morning at the notoriously wet Cengkareng Golf Club.

But Indonesia's No. 1 golfer Junaidi Ibrahim said he had anticipated a wet course.

"And I find it no problem," said Junaidi, who will lead a pack of 13 Indonesian golfers, six amateurs and seven pros to play the tournament worth Rp 11 billion.

"My target now is of course to make the cut," he said.

Fellow golfer Benny Kasiadi said he wanted to make the cut during the tournament.

"I will try to be more focused on greens to deliver good putts," said the 21-year old amateur golfer, whose father Kasiyadi was the 1989 champion of the Indonesian Open.

No Indonesian golfers have made the cut in the tournament in recent years.

This year, a total of 156 golfers was set to take part in the competition, which runs until Sunday.

Defending champion Mikko Ilonen of Finland said he would retain his title on the Cengkareng course.

Thai golfer Thaworn Wiratchant is his strongest contender, as the Thai winner of the 2005 Indonesian Open in the same course.

"Last year we had a lot of rain which made it difficult. But the course here looks very good and fair," Mikko said.

"The greens are tricky and there are also some very short holes on this course, so I think the scoring will be quite low this year," he said.

Wiratchant said he would have to work harder on his tee shots due to some changes to the golf course.

"Winning here in 2005 was good for me as I went on to win three more tournaments and won the Order of Merit title.

"I like this golf course but it's changed somewhat since we last played here."

"One of the par fives has been changed to a par four and the course has also become longer.

"I haven't been very consistent with my drives recently but I hope to get it right when the tournament begins," said the 41-year old golfer.

As Europe's hero in the 2002 Ryder Cup, Paul McGinley said he did not have any target for this tournament but promised to play whole-heartedly.

"If I play well and hit the hole, I am sure the prize will come later," McGinley said.

He said he had anticipated a wet course and was relishing the challenge of the Cengkareng course.

McGinley said he had huge respect for Asia's golfers and their standard of play had significantly improved.

"I see how well they play and the scores they are producing and I have a lot of respect for those players as well as the guys from European that are here this week." (ind)

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