Review PGPI Tour 2010
Road To The New Hope...
The classic obstacle in the development
of national golf ever since Indonesia
was hit by economic crisis in 1997 is
the professional golfers’ yearning for
more qualified local tours.
For the professional golfers in the country, the
continuity of local tournament series is expected
to not only meet their living expenses or as
a secure income , but as an essential tool for
their accumulated earnings in national Order
of Merit ranking which is ruled and managed
by Indonesian Professional Golf Association
(PGPI), TPC division (Tour Players Committee).
Officially, the PGPI Tour Order of Merit is
recognized by the international sanctioning
bodies in Asian and European region that are
Asian Tour, European Tour, ASEAN PGA and the
new one , OneAsia.
The accumulated total prize money record
can give them a chance to accomplish in
the international stage through a country
exemption spot, Asian qualifying spot for the
world cup or any other special spots in the
international tour based on the latest rank.
Through the movement that considered a ‘daring’ one by some of the entrepreneurs
and organizations as Ria Prawiro (Kariza),
Gita Wirjawan (Ancora), Emeralda Golf Club,
Raharja SK, Mercedes-Benz, Palapa Golf Club,
Telkom and Pertamina, the motion of local
professional tour in Indonesia emerged into a
new hope with total nine tour series staged
in 2009.
Entering the season of this year, the positive
initiative was thrown in high gear where at least
more than ten local tours will certainly enliven
the 2010 PGPI tour competition. And besides the
local tours, there will be five international tours
that have been confirmed to be staged after
Kariza Indonesia Championship last May, they are
2010 Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open (One Asia),
CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Qualifying (Asian Tour &
PGA Tour), 2010 Indonesia President Invitational
(Asian Tour), Kariza Classic (Asian Development
Tour) dan Tour Championship Mercedes-Benz
Masters Indonesia (ASEAN PGA).
Up to mid June this year, Indonesian touring
pros have had six local tours and one
international tour to try on their best game. It’s
always interesting to observe and recall how
they journeyed the step to reach for the best
spot in Order of Merit in a tight and competitive
atmosphere of that seven tours.
day and earned the club house champion. While
Benny Kasiadi who had a chance to make a history
as ““The Rookie Champion” ,failed to make use of his
good chances on the last holes and ended up at the
runner up position by one stroke . With his winning,
Junaidi elevated his position from 30th after the first
series in Medan , to the second place in PGPI Order
of Merit with total earnings of IDR 27.317.500,-.
Effendi K from Medan was currently at the top
rank after he made a good finish in big five in
those two tournaments . |
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| Emeralda Mercedes-Benz Golf
Tournament (2–3 February 2010)
Last year, Emeralda Mercedes-Benz Golf
Tournament was the PGPI opening tour series,
this year it became its second tour series. This
IDR150million tour could be said as one of the
two-days tour series that had attracted quite an
attention. More or less because it was played
on an international course, Emeralda Golf Club,
known to host the 2006 Indonesia Open.
It was just a year ago when Sarmilih KZ
triumphantly presented the first title for Ria
Prawiro and Kariza as his sponsor by defeating
Ilyassyak from Lhokseumawe, Aceh in a sudden death play off after they both finished at score
1-under 143. This year another golfer from
Aceh, Junaidi Ibrahim, won the title with score
2-under 143.
On the first day, Junaidi finished at 1 over 73 but
he managed to get a 3 under 69 on the second day and earned the club house champion. While
Benny Kasiadi who had a chance to make a history
as ““The Rookie Champion” ,failed to make use of his
good chances on the last holes and ended up at the
runner up position by one stroke . With his winning,
Junaidi elevated his position from 30th after the first
series in Medan , to the second place in PGPI Order
of Merit with total earnings of IDR 27.317.500,-.
Effendi K from Medan was currently at the top
rank after he made a good finish in big five in
those two tournaments . |
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Ancora Pro Series II
20–22 April 2010)
Ilyassyak’s name has always been a ‘threat’
to his competitors ever since this thickmoustache
golfer recorded quite a bright
international accomplishment that put him in
2007 Asian Tour Order of Merit contender. But
his reputation could not be noted as a best one
as he had not taken any titles from local tours
after winning the Jabar Open at Jatinangor
Bandung, 12 years ago.
His unofficial title as ‘runner up specialist’ was
wiped out at once after his 5 meter putt on
18th hole at Klub Golf Imperial, Thursday 22
April 2010, buried Maan Nasim’s expectation to
push for a play off as well as defending his title,
won last year at the same course.
Ilyassyak became the only player who finished
with score under par in this PGPI Tour fifth
event and 2010 Ancora’s second series . He
carded a total 1under 215 in three rounds. His
name instantly flew up to the big five 2010
PGPI Tour Order of Merit and served him a
spot in Mercedes-Benz Tour at Kariza Indonesia
Championship in Serpong that provided 60
spots of PGPI Order of Merit rank. |
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Ancora Pro Series I
(23–25 February 2010)
Ancora Sports that had confirmed to organize 6 local tournament series this
year , opened its first series at Padang Golf
Matoa Nasional entitled Ancora Pro Series
I. This time the defending champion, Maan
Nasim, was marched closely by two tough
players, Sarmilih KZ and Denny Wijaya.
Without trying to eliminate other
tournaments that he had toured, Sarmilih KZ’s fight in the final round at this Ancora’s
first series could be recorded as one of the
most dramatic and tense games he had
ever played, observed from hole to hole,
especially in the final round. This Kariza’s
golfer finally took the champion title with
7 under 209, though on the first nine, he
was left behind by 3 stroke from Denny A.
Wijaya who currently led and the defending
champion, Maan Nasim.
Sarmilih’s name completed the previous two
winners’ names , Ariadi Ateng (PelindoI Open
Tournament) and Junaidi Ibrahim (Mercedes-Benz
Emeralda Golf Tournament) as the champion who
elatedly stormed up from behind.
The result put Sarmilih in the second position
Order Of Merit below Denny Wijaya who
finished second in this third PGPI Tour series.
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Kariza Indonesia Championship
(8–11 May 2010)
Kariza Indonesia Championship was not fully a
local series. But because this 2010 Mercedes-
Benz Tour third series was staged in the country,
automatically PGPI Tour stood as the sanctioning
body together with ASEAN PGA. That meant, the
earnings accumulation was still applicable for
Indonesian touring pros who participated in this
US$50,000 event. This Kariza’s international tour
gave a 60 spots to the local pros which was half
of PGPI Tour blue card holder.
Perhaps it was not a time yet for our professional
golfers to match those high competitive spirit
of South East Asian golfers , as only Rory Hie
who was able to make into the leader board
in some rounds. But at least the 13 Indonesian
(1 amateur ) surely added up their money bag
in 2010 PGPI Tour Order of Merit list after they
successfully making to the cut line.
That total players were not as many as in
Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia at Emeralda
Golf Club last 2009 , where 26 local players joined
in the weekend players list. Regarding the total 39
players who scored under par, the 13 Indonesian
pros who made to the final round could be
considered as many in the cut line of 1over 145.
Thai golfer, Thanyakon Khrongpha took the
champion title after defeating the tough Filipino,
Jay Bayron in sudden death play off, and bagged
the main prize money of US$8,126.00 equal to
IDR 73million.
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RP Invitational 2010
(16–19 March 2010)
This was the most awaited tournament ever! It’s
because last year , RP Invitational had been said as
one of the biggest tour in PGPI Tour history with
its IDR 350million prize money .
And in 2010, the tour creator, Ria Prawiro, added
the total prize to the sum of IDR 500 million.
Undoubtedly, almost all touring pros in the
country were competing to snatch a spot to play
in this PGPI Tour 4th series. A total of 70 players
competed in Monday qualifying day for the spot.
Last year runner up, Sarmilih KZ, again showed
his class as one of Indonesia’s best touring pro by netting a position in the champion flight
together with Andik Mauludin and Burhan Bora
in the final round. Unfortunately, a small mistake
on hole 13 smacked down his mental and finally
had to admit Andik Mauludin’s unbeatable game
and be consent to let this ex Indonesia’s number
one amateur golfer took the champion’s crown.
This was Andik’s maiden title since this golfer
from Malang started his professional career in
the beginning of 2009 tour season.
The first prize money of IDR 80million received
by Andik , led him atop of 2010 PGPI Tour Order
Of Merit and moved down Denny A.Wijaya.
An interesting surprise came from a rookie
from Bandung, Sandro Bernad who made his
way to compete in the leader board for three days. Though finally his least experience in big
tournaments had him thrown out from the
big ten on the last day. Another surprise came
from a junior amateur golfer, Elki Kow , who
placed his name as one of the four players who
recorded total score 1-under par and took the
Lowest Amateur trophy.
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Ancora Pro Series III
(25–27 May 2010)
Benny Kasiadi surely didn’t want to waste his
rookie year to do his best in Ancora Pro Series
III at Padang Golf Modernland Tangerang last
May. Through a dramatic fight in scrambling
up his score right on the last two holes , he left
behind Rory Hie who was strongly predicted to
take the title and was crowned his maiden title
as a professional golfer.
Rory seemed confident with total score 8 under
par after finishing with a birdie putt on hole 15th,it
looked like the victory was already in his hold.
Besides , it left Benny Kasiadi two things to be
able to match Rory’s score in the last remaining
four holes by 3 stroke behind…focus and luck.
And both were victoriously grabbed by Benny
at the same time , when Rory was stumbled by
bogey on 16th hole, Benny took his turn and
carded a birdie.
The circumstances was turned over 180 degrees
when Rory appeared to dig down his win-to-be
chance after failing to make a perfect approach
and break a par with two putts on the last hole,
earned a bogey and closed at 6-under 210.
On the other side, Benny could beat the most
challenging par 3 on 17th hole with a birdie.
Benny carded a par on the last hole to easily
finish his game as the champion and for a while
put his name in the third place 2010 PGPI Tour
Order of Merit behind Sarmilih KZ till the final
result of 2010 Camry Invitational at Padang Golf
Pondok Indah next June 17-18.
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