Jakarta, July 15 - Brett Munson of the United States got off to a hot start when he returned with a flawless five-under-par 67 to take the opening round lead at the Linc Group Jakarta Classic on Tuesday.
England’s Grant Jackson, local hope K. Soewarno and Annop Tangkamolprasert of Thailand trailed the leader by two shots in tied-second place after carding matching 69s at the Imperial Klub Golf.
Local prospects Benny Kasiadi and Ian Andrew were a further shot back in tied-fifth place alongside American Jeff Lai, Niall Turner of Ireland and South African Mathiam Keyser at the US$60,000 Asian Development Tour (ADT) event, which is the ninth stop on the ADT this year.
Title holder James Bowen of the United States will have to make up ground after carding a 75 to take a share of 48th place.
Having missed out on the opportunity to earn an Asian Tour card at the Qualifying School earlier this year, Munson decided to turn his attention to the ADT where he won his first victory in March and secured one other top-five result.
Currently ranked third on the ADT Order of Merit, Munson shot five birdies to kick start his campaign in Indonesia where he hopes to win a second victory on the burgeoning Tour which is the gateway to the premier Asian Tour.
“I played some solid golf. This course suits my game a lot. It’s good to be back on the ADT after a short break. I’ve been working on my game and it’s great to be playing well again after missing the cut in the previous tournament. Hopefully I can continue to do well over the next three days,” said the 27-year-old Munson.
Jackson, ranked 10th on the Order of Merit, kept chase for his first victory this season as he set his sights on making a move on the Merit list where the top five players at the end of the season will earn Asian Tour cards for 2015.
“I always try my best to win in every tournament I play. This week is no exception. I had a generally good round today. This week is the start of a series of events on the ADT. I hope to build up on my good form and secure a good result this week so that I can be in a good shape for the next few tournaments,” added Jackson.
Soewarno, who plays regularly on the domestic Tour, took advantage of the opportunity to play on the ADT this week and is hoping to continue his good run of form. The leading Indonesian stumbled with a double-bogey on the fourth but recovered swiftly with five birdies to put himself in contention after the first round of the Linc Group Jakarta Classic.
“My game was not too bad today. The wind got stronger in the afternoon but that didn’t really affect my game. I’m feeling pretty confident right now and I hope to keep up my good form,” said Soewarno.
This season, the ADT will reward the top five players on the final Order of Merit with playing rights for the 2015 Asian Tour season. Previously, the top-three players were offered Asian Tour cards since the ADT’s launch in 2010.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Friday, July 11, 2014
Bowen Ready To Defend Jakarta Classic Title At Imperial Klub Golf
Jakarta, July 11 - Title holder James Bowen of the United States is ready to embark on a successful title defense when he returns to the Imperial Klub Golf for the Linc Group Jakarta Classic from July 15 to 18 (Tuesday to Friday) next week.
Bowen, a two-time winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), has received a timely confidence boost following his victory on the domestic Tour in Jakarta last week.
The talented American is in fine form ahead of the US$60,000 Linc Group Jakarta Classic, which is the ADT’s first stop in Indonesia this season.
Bowen claimed his second ADT victory at the inaugural Linc Group Jakarta Classic last year and eventually finished second on the final Order of Merit, earning him an Asian Tour card for the 2014 season.
“I am very excited coming back to Jakarta and very much looking forward to defending my title. Last week’s win was really pleasing. I’ve been working on my swing for a while now and seems like it’s finally paying off,” said the confident 28-year-old.
Bowen remains optimistic with his game despite a disappointing start to the 2014 Asian Tour season where he has yet to make a single cut.
“It’s been a slow start for me this season but I’m starting to feel good about my game after winning last week. I think my current game is good and I’m ready to play next week,” added Bowen.
Order of Merit leader and three-time ADT winner Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei, past winners Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand and American Brett Munson, as well as Indonesia’s George Gandranata and Rory Hie will also feature in the Linc Group Jakarta Classic.
Bowen, a two-time winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), has received a timely confidence boost following his victory on the domestic Tour in Jakarta last week.
The talented American is in fine form ahead of the US$60,000 Linc Group Jakarta Classic, which is the ADT’s first stop in Indonesia this season.
Bowen claimed his second ADT victory at the inaugural Linc Group Jakarta Classic last year and eventually finished second on the final Order of Merit, earning him an Asian Tour card for the 2014 season.
“I am very excited coming back to Jakarta and very much looking forward to defending my title. Last week’s win was really pleasing. I’ve been working on my swing for a while now and seems like it’s finally paying off,” said the confident 28-year-old.
Bowen remains optimistic with his game despite a disappointing start to the 2014 Asian Tour season where he has yet to make a single cut.
“It’s been a slow start for me this season but I’m starting to feel good about my game after winning last week. I think my current game is good and I’m ready to play next week,” added Bowen.
Order of Merit leader and three-time ADT winner Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei, past winners Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand and American Brett Munson, as well as Indonesia’s George Gandranata and Rory Hie will also feature in the Linc Group Jakarta Classic.
George Gandranata Seeks Maiden Win On Asian Development Tour
Jakarta, July 10 - Highly-rated George Gandranata of Indonesia, who impressed with three victories on the local circuit in the last three months, will be looking to secure a fourth title on home soil and his first on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) when the Linc Group Jakarta Classic gets underway next week.
The talented Indonesian will be amongst an international cast of talents from over 18 countries vying for honors at the US$60,000 ADT event, which is returning to the Imperial Klub Golf for its second edition from July 15 to 18 (Tuesday to Friday) next week.
Gandranata will be joined by compatriot Rory Hie and title holder James Bowen of the United States at the Linc Group Jakarta Classic, which is the ninth stop on the burgeoning circuit this season. Bowen claimed another victory in Jakarta last week where he played on sponsor’s invite.
Since joining the play-for-pay ranks in 2012, Gandranata has been striving to perform well on the premier Asian Tour as well as the ADT. He came close to claiming his first ADT title at the 2013 season-ending event earlier in January before settling for second place behind Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert.
The 28-year-old has been showing strong support for his domestic circuit by playing most of the tournaments on the newly established Professional Golf Tour of Indonesia (PGTI). His move has yielded great returns as he finally claimed his first professional victory in April. He went on to secure two other local victories in May and June respectively.
“The PGTI is a new domestic Tour and I hope I can lend my support to them whenever I can to help it grow. The best way to show my support is to play in these events.
Having won three titles recently was a blessing but golf is still golf. We will never know what to expect. All we can do is to prepare as much as we can,” said Gandranata.
Gandranata hailed the return of the Linc Group Jakarta Classic which he believes will be a great opportunity for the local players as it is an international event.
“The Linc Group Jakarta Classic will be a good tournament for us. All international events in Indonesia are great opportunities for us to showcase our capabilities. I will work on my game plan and hopefully I can get the desirable results,” added Gandranata, who is playing in his first ADT event of the season next week.
The ADT Order of Merit race will also resume next week following a one-month mid-season break. Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei leads the rankings on US$28,816, courtesy of two victories this season.
This season, the ADT will reward the top five players on the final Order of Merit with playing rights for the 2015 Asian Tour season. Previously, the top-three players were offered Asian Tour cards since the ADT’s launch in 2010.
The talented Indonesian will be amongst an international cast of talents from over 18 countries vying for honors at the US$60,000 ADT event, which is returning to the Imperial Klub Golf for its second edition from July 15 to 18 (Tuesday to Friday) next week.
Gandranata will be joined by compatriot Rory Hie and title holder James Bowen of the United States at the Linc Group Jakarta Classic, which is the ninth stop on the burgeoning circuit this season. Bowen claimed another victory in Jakarta last week where he played on sponsor’s invite.
Since joining the play-for-pay ranks in 2012, Gandranata has been striving to perform well on the premier Asian Tour as well as the ADT. He came close to claiming his first ADT title at the 2013 season-ending event earlier in January before settling for second place behind Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert.
The 28-year-old has been showing strong support for his domestic circuit by playing most of the tournaments on the newly established Professional Golf Tour of Indonesia (PGTI). His move has yielded great returns as he finally claimed his first professional victory in April. He went on to secure two other local victories in May and June respectively.
“The PGTI is a new domestic Tour and I hope I can lend my support to them whenever I can to help it grow. The best way to show my support is to play in these events.
Having won three titles recently was a blessing but golf is still golf. We will never know what to expect. All we can do is to prepare as much as we can,” said Gandranata.
Gandranata hailed the return of the Linc Group Jakarta Classic which he believes will be a great opportunity for the local players as it is an international event.
“The Linc Group Jakarta Classic will be a good tournament for us. All international events in Indonesia are great opportunities for us to showcase our capabilities. I will work on my game plan and hopefully I can get the desirable results,” added Gandranata, who is playing in his first ADT event of the season next week.
The ADT Order of Merit race will also resume next week following a one-month mid-season break. Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei leads the rankings on US$28,816, courtesy of two victories this season.
This season, the ADT will reward the top five players on the final Order of Merit with playing rights for the 2015 Asian Tour season. Previously, the top-three players were offered Asian Tour cards since the ADT’s launch in 2010.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament Makes ADT Debut
Singapore, July 7 - The inaugural Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament will make its debut on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in Jakarta this August, raising the season’s schedule to a total of 19 tournaments.
The US$100,000 event will be played at the BSD course by Damai Indah Golf from August 21 to 24 where leading players from Indonesia will compete against an international field from the ADT.
With the addition of a new tournament, aspiring professionals from the region will enjoy another occasion to improve their world rankings as all ADT events are afforded with Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points starting from 2013.
Ir. Ciputra, founder and chairman of Ciputra Business Group as well as sponsor of the inaugural Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament, hailed the launch of the event, saying it is a great opportunity for Indonesia’s budding golfers to establish themselves on the ADT.
“We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament on the ADT, which we believe will offer a strong platform for Indonesian golfers as well as golfers from the region to further excel in the game, especially with the world ranking points on offer,” said Ir. Ciputra.
Ir. Ciputra has long been a strong advocate for developing professional golfers in Indonesia and he is confident that the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament will play a key role in shaping the growth of the sport in the country.
“We hope that by creating new playing opportunities, we can nurture more home grown talented golfers to become strong International players. We look forward to a very successful tournament in August,” added Ir. Ciputra.
A total of 144 players will compete in the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament, with the field being split between the ADT and the newly established Professional Golf Tour of Indonesia (PGTI).
Asian Tour Chairman Kyi Hla Han expressed his delight on the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament coming on board as the newest tournament on the burgeoning ADT this season.
“Playing on the ADT will be a good stepping stone for aspiring golfers in the region to move on to the Asian Tour. With the launch of the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament, I believe Indonesian players will definitely benefit from the ADT platform,” said Han.
“I would also like to express our fullest appreciation to Mr. Ciputra and the PGTI for taking this initiative to launch the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament,” he added.
Apart from the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament and Jakarta Classic on the ADT, there are two other events staged in Indonesia on the Asian Tour schedule, the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters which was held in April and the Indonesia Open which is scheduled to be played from December 4 to 7.
The Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament will be the 13th leg of the 2014 ADT season and also the second stop in Jakarta following the Jakarta Classic next week.
Starting this season, the ADT will reward the top five players on the final Order of Merit with playing rights in the 2015 Asian Tour season.
This is a significant boost for aspiring professionals on the ADT as it is the highest number of Asian Tour cards up for grabs since the burgeoning Tour was inaugurated as a gateway to the Asian Tour in 2010. Only the top three players on the final ADT Order of Merit for each season obtained their Asian Tour cards in the past.
The US$100,000 event will be played at the BSD course by Damai Indah Golf from August 21 to 24 where leading players from Indonesia will compete against an international field from the ADT.
With the addition of a new tournament, aspiring professionals from the region will enjoy another occasion to improve their world rankings as all ADT events are afforded with Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points starting from 2013.
Ir. Ciputra, founder and chairman of Ciputra Business Group as well as sponsor of the inaugural Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament, hailed the launch of the event, saying it is a great opportunity for Indonesia’s budding golfers to establish themselves on the ADT.
“We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament on the ADT, which we believe will offer a strong platform for Indonesian golfers as well as golfers from the region to further excel in the game, especially with the world ranking points on offer,” said Ir. Ciputra.
Ir. Ciputra has long been a strong advocate for developing professional golfers in Indonesia and he is confident that the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament will play a key role in shaping the growth of the sport in the country.
“We hope that by creating new playing opportunities, we can nurture more home grown talented golfers to become strong International players. We look forward to a very successful tournament in August,” added Ir. Ciputra.
A total of 144 players will compete in the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament, with the field being split between the ADT and the newly established Professional Golf Tour of Indonesia (PGTI).
Asian Tour Chairman Kyi Hla Han expressed his delight on the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament coming on board as the newest tournament on the burgeoning ADT this season.
“Playing on the ADT will be a good stepping stone for aspiring golfers in the region to move on to the Asian Tour. With the launch of the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament, I believe Indonesian players will definitely benefit from the ADT platform,” said Han.
“I would also like to express our fullest appreciation to Mr. Ciputra and the PGTI for taking this initiative to launch the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament,” he added.
Apart from the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament and Jakarta Classic on the ADT, there are two other events staged in Indonesia on the Asian Tour schedule, the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters which was held in April and the Indonesia Open which is scheduled to be played from December 4 to 7.
The Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament will be the 13th leg of the 2014 ADT season and also the second stop in Jakarta following the Jakarta Classic next week.
Starting this season, the ADT will reward the top five players on the final Order of Merit with playing rights in the 2015 Asian Tour season.
This is a significant boost for aspiring professionals on the ADT as it is the highest number of Asian Tour cards up for grabs since the burgeoning Tour was inaugurated as a gateway to the Asian Tour in 2010. Only the top three players on the final ADT Order of Merit for each season obtained their Asian Tour cards in the past.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Bowen Secures Second Win In Indonesia At Indonesian Golf Tour At Jababeka Golf & Country Club
“It's a tricky course. The greens are firm and playing here before during the Linc Group Jakarta Invitational earlier this year definitely helped me with my game plan. I was very patient and didn't make mistakes so that is great. I’m an invited player so I wanted to play well. I wanted to give myself a good chance. I played really well in the final round. I made one bogey today, but I’m quite pleased with my game,” said James.
“Thanks to the Indonesian Golf Tour, the game of golf is growing in Indonesia. A lot of young players are improving. I played with two of the young players today (Joshua Andrew Wirawan and Putra Abhinawa Sahari) and they have a very good game. I’m thankful that I was able to play.” added James.
Chasing closely was Joshua Andrew Wirawan, who came in second with a total score of two-under-par 211. Putting forward his best effort from day one, Joshua played really well to hold his position.
As a come back moment, Rory Hie who finished in 7th position while current Order of Merit leader, George Gandranata had to settle for 11th position.
On the amateur positions, Joeh Se Ik and Rivani Adelia Sihotang again proved their skills on the course and became Best Male and Female Amateur in this event. Joeh Se Ik recorded eight-over-par 217 while Rivani Adelia Sihotang signed-in a total score one-under-par 212.
Juriah put up a good a fight on the course by sticking close to Rivani during the final round, but even a Double-bogey on the 3rd hole did not stop Rivani from claiming her victory.
”It was so tense! It feels like you’re in a race, but I made it to the finish line. The course is amazing. It helped me to improve my skills for sure. I learned a lot from this course.” said Rivani.
“I’m happy to be able to win, but I don't want to get cocky. My plan is to become professional and go on the LPGA tour. So glad that now we have the tour (Indonesian Golf Tour). For amateurs such as me, we can gain more experience and skills on this tour. The tour is not only playing on one course, but it moves around so this helps us to learn and read each course's characteristics,” added now 2-time Best Female Amateur champion, Rivani Adelia Sihotang.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Indonesian Government Raises Visa On Arrival Fees
Jakarta, 2 July 2014 - Starting tomorrow, Thursday 3 July 2014, the fees for Visa On Arrival (VOA) for international travelers coming to Indonesia will be USD 35 for a 30-day stay period, a 40% increase on the current applicable fee.
For the Special Economic Zones, including Batam and Bintan, there is the possibility for a 7-day visa that will cost USD 15.
The new fees are in Peraturan Pemerintah (Government Regulation) No 45/2014, which can be downloaded from the Immigration Service website (in Indonesian).
For the Special Economic Zones, including Batam and Bintan, there is the possibility for a 7-day visa that will cost USD 15.
The new fees are in Peraturan Pemerintah (Government Regulation) No 45/2014, which can be downloaded from the Immigration Service website (in Indonesian).
American James Bowen Drives His Way To Lead Indonesian Golf Tour At Jababeka Golf & Country Club.
“Today I played very solid. I made one boogie, one mistake on the 2nd hole with 3 putts. Other than that, I hit a lot of greens. My short game was very good. I had two tough bunker shots but I got it up and down and that’s what really kept my momentum going. I hit it really close on the last two holes , I missed birdie on the 17th but made it on the 18th. I played a solid round and I’m very pleased,” said LINC Group Jakarta Classic 2013 Champion, James Bowen.
“The course is long and you didn’t get too much roll. Everything was in great shape. Wind was a bit tricky, but it wasn't too hard to read which direction it came from. All in all the course is great and I’m very happy that I played here.” added James.
Joeh Se Ik signed-in a total score of two-over-par (144) in round two allowing him to keep the throne for another day as the Lowest Male Amateur. Chasing second place is Danny Masrin of USA who signed-in a total score of four-over-par (146).
Overnight Ladies Amateur leader, Renata, dropped to second place after recording 72 with a total score of one-over-par (143) tied with Juriah who signed-in a magnificent three-under-par score in round two alone. New Ladies Amateur leader, Rivani Adelia Sihotang played brightly by recording a bogey free round with 4 birdies to finish at two-under par (140).
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