On October 20, 2012, AkkuFresh® Indonesia invited fans of AkkuFresh® Next Generation™ to the Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open. As our Indonesian partner, AkkuFresh® Indonesia played a key role in organizing the event.
In 2012, Enjoy Jakarta launched a new sponsorship initiative by backing the Ladies Indonesia Open for the first time. This move expanded their existing program, as they had sponsored the men’s Indonesia Open since 2005.
The Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open offered prize money of US$200,000. Held at Palm Hill Golf Club in Jakarta, the tournament ran from October 18th to 20th, 2012.
Many leading lady professional golfers from Asia and Europe participated in the ninth edition of the tournament. Among them were Thailand’s Srisawang Nontaya and Yoopan Tiranan, both winners of the LAGT in the 2012 season. Additionally, Patcharachuta Kongkapan, golf’s rising star, and England’s Rebecca Hudson, a three-time Ladies European Tour champion, competed.
Nontaya had previously won the Ladies Thailand Open in February 2012. Meanwhile, Tiranan triumphed in the Technology Cup in Taiwan earlier that year.
Indonesia’s Lydia Ivana Jaya led the local challenge. She was joined by Inez Putri, the reigning Miss Indonesia World 2012, who is also a promising golfer.
Patcharachuta Kongkapan’s Victory
Patcharachuta Kongkapan, a diminutive Thai golfer, claimed a three-shot victory in the US$200,000 event. She dominated the final round with a four-under-par 68, leaving no one able to catch her at Palm Hill Golf Club.
Taiwan’s Hsieh Yu-ling secured second place after shooting a 68. Malaysian amateur Kelly Tan finished third, two shots behind, closing with a 74.
At the start of the final round, Tan led by one stroke. However, Patcharachuta and veteran Indian Smriti Mehra were close behind.
Patcharachuta quickly pulled ahead with birdies on the first, third, fourth, and seventh holes. By the turn, she led by four shots and cruised home, with her only bogey coming on the last hole.
“My concentration was very good today, and I stayed calm. I have been playing well recently, and my game keeps improving. I am so happy to win,” said Patcharachuta. She received a cheque for US$30,000.
This victory marked Patcharachuta’s first win on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour. It was also the third win of the season by a Thai player.
Other Highlights
Nontaya Srisawang had won the Ladies Thailand Open in February. Similarly, Tiranan Yoopan triumphed in last month’s Technology Cup in Taiwan.
Hsieh stormed through at the end, making birdies on three of the last six holes to snatch second place. In contrast, Tan failed to make any birdies and made two bogeys.
Mehra, the first-round leader, finished poorly. She carded a bogey on 15, a double on 17, and a bogey on the last, dropping her into a tie for eighth.
Amateur star Inez Putri signed off with an 81, ending in a tie for 55th place. Earlier that year, she won the title of Miss Indonesia.
Final Round Scores
(a) denotes amateur
Par 72
209 – Patcharachuta Kongkapan (THA) 71 70 68
212 – Hsieh Yu-ling (TPE) 71 73 68
214 – Kelly Tan (MAS) (a) 71 69 74
215 – Kusuma Meechai (THA) 73 73 69, Connie Chen (RSA) 74 69 72, Dottie Ardina (PHI) (a) 72 72 71
216 – Michelle Koh (MAS) (a) 75 68 73
217 – Walailak Satarak (US) 71 74 72, Numa Gulyanamitta (THA) 74 71 72, Smriti Mehra (IND) 69 72 76
219 – Thidapa Suwannapura (THA) 71 78 70, Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 76 73 70, Jaruporn Palakawong (THA) 72 75 72
220 – Stacey Keating (AUS) 76 75 69, Neha Tripathi (AUS) 75 73 72, Sahra Hassan (WAL) 73 74 73, Tiffany Tavee (US) 75 72 73, Anil Abu Bakar Johani (MAS) 75 72 73, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 74 71 75
Selected Scores
228 – Nikki Garrett (AUS) 79 73 76
229 – Lidya Ivana Jaya (INA) 79 76 74
236 – Inez Putri (INA) (a) 79 76 81
Government and Sponsorship Impact
“The Jakarta Capital City Government believes sponsoring this tournament will draw attention to Indonesia and Jakarta. It is a tremendous honour. We hope to showcase our nation’s diverse languages, cultures, and customs,” said His Excellency Dr Ing H. Fauzi Bowo, Governor of Jakarta.
“The Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open will be a wonderful sporting occasion. We are excited to associate ourselves with ladies’ professional golf, which has a huge following,” added Dr Fauzi.
The tournament gained significant exposure through regional television coverage. ESPN Star Sports produced three one-hour highlight shows.
A field of 83 players competed over three rounds, with no cut being made.
Notable Participants
Other notable participants included Sahra Hassan, a young golfer from Wales. In May 2012, she was named UK sportswoman of the year by the Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation at Wembley Stadium.
Australian Nikki Garrett also competed. She was the 2006 Rookie of the Year on the Ladies European Tour and claimed back-to-back titles in 2007.
History of the Tournament
The Ladies Indonesia Open first took place in 1987. Japan’s Fusako Nagata lifted the trophy. Well-known winners include Lisa Hackney from England in 1995 and Australian Corinne Dibnah in 1996.
The Indonesian Golf Association (PGI) oversees the Ladies Indonesia Open. They eagerly anticipate the first staging of the event since 2010.
“Ladies’ golf continues to capture the imagination of the golfing world. We are thrilled to see our national Open return in 2012. A strong field has entered. We also look forward to seeing amateurs from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines compete,” said Arifin Panigoro, President – PGI.
Future of the Tournament
The tournament is set to be one of the showpiece events on the LAGT.
“We are delighted to welcome Enjoy Jakarta as a new sponsor. Our circuit features 13 events this season. Everyone looks forward to heading to the Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open,” said Koichi Kato, President & Commissioner, Ladies Asian Golf Tour.
The LAGT launched in 2005. It took over from the Kasaido Ladies Asian Golf Circuit, which ended in 2003.
“Indonesia deserves and needs international sporting events like this. We at GolfLink Resorts take great pleasure in facilitating this process,” said Suprapto Pegeng, Marketing Director, PT Intra GolfLink. The company promotes the event and owns Palm Hill.
About Palm Hill Golf Club
Palm Hill’s 18-hole course is located in the Sentul Highlands. It is near the green city of Bogor. Tom Matteson designed the course, and Japan’s Taisei Corporation developed it.
Like all courses in the Bogor region, it offers spectacular views. The majestic Mount Salak is particularly striking.
Check out our epic photos. Thanks to our Indonesian partners and the Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open event, more people in Indonesia and the region now know about AkkuFresh® Next Generation™. With us, you can Race more because #TheFunNeverEnds!
