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Past Champs Lead Charge As President Invitational Heads Back to Its Roots
Wimbo Satwiko | July 03, 2009

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The 2009 edition of the Indonesia President Invitational is going back to where it all began.

Damai Indah Golf Course in Tangerang, Banten, will host the event on July 23-26, and Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han said the event was one of the most popular in the region.

“The tournament is back to its inaugural place at Damai Indah Golf Course, and it’s a great opportunity to visit Indonesia again. The event will be a great test for golfers,” Han said on Friday. “We have immense talent around Asia, and the event will serve as a stage for players to showcase their skills.”

In addition to golfing talent from around Indonesia having the chance to shine, the tournament is also an opportunity for the course itself to show its stuff.

Damai Indah executive director Christine Wiradinata said the revamped course should be a challenge for the players.

“It’s our pleasure to be the host of the event. The course has been renovated, especially the greens, and supervised by Jack Nicklaus himself as he designed the course,” Christine said. “We hope it will be more challenging, while the players also feel more comfortable.”

Scott Hend of Australia, the 2008 champion, has confirmed he will defend his title, and 2007 winner Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines will also be in the field.

“Defending on a different course is not ideal as I like the one from last year, but having played this year’s course two years ago, I do have a liking for it and I will be trying to find the same form which helped me win last year,” Hend told the Asian Tour Web site.

Pagunsan scored a dramatic victory in 2007, finishing with a birdie and an eagle on the final two holes to edge India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar by one stroke.

Rory Hie will head the list of Indonesian competitors. Rory, who tied for 32nd with four rounds of par or better during the Indonesia Open in February, earned his 2009 Asian Tour card by finishing in the top 40 during Qualifying School in January. He is currently 58th in the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Maan Nasim earned a place at the invitational on Friday after winning the Ancors Pro Series 2 tournament at Matoa golf course.

He finished the tournament at 18 under, beating Indra Hermawan by six strokes and third-place Ilyassyak by seven.

The result put Maan, who also won the RP Invitational in March and the first Ancora Pro Series in May, atop the Indonesian Professional Golf Association Order of Merit.