Singapore, June 17: Gaganjeet Bhullar, whose nine Asian Tour wins include three in Indonesia, would have been pleased to hear that The Indonesia Open sponsored by Bank Mandiri, will return to the Asian Tour schedule in 2022. Bhullar has won the Indonesia Open twice in 2013 and 2016 and the Indonesia President Invitational in 2009.
The Indonesia Open comes back after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic and will be held at Jakarta’s Pondok Indah Golf Course from August 4-7.
It is a tournament, where Indians have done well. Bhullar is a twice winner of the tournament in 2013 and 2016. Bhullar won the 2016 Indonesia Open when he finished three shots ahead of four players including Jeev Milkha Singh.
Bhullar earlier won the same event in 2013 and Bhullar’s maiden win on the Asian Tour had also come in Indonesia at the Indonesia President Invitational in 2009.
Jeev has been a runner-up twice – first to Jeev Felipe Aguilar in 2008, the year he won the second of his two Asian Tour Order of Merits. He was also runner up tot Bhullar in 2016.
Shiv Kapur was one of the three players tied for second behind winner Mikko Illonen in 2007.
With a prize purse of US$500,000 the Bank Mandiri Indonesia Open will be the 11th leg of the 2022-23 season and will immediately precede Tour stops in Singapore and Korea.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour, said: “The National Open Championships of countries around the region are such an integral part of Asia’s golfing history. We’re delighted, therefore, to be able to welcome back the Indonesia Open to the Asian Tour schedule this year and we are extremely grateful to Bank Mandiri for their support.”
Dating back to 1974, the Indonesia Open has a proud and rich heritage. Its roll of honour includes late, great American Payne Stewart (1981) and fellow Major champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland (2014).
Other international golfers who have savoured success in the championship include New Zealander Frank Nobilo, Australian Craig Parry and South African Justin Harding.
When the Indonesia Open was last staged in 2019, victory went to Argentinean Miguel Angel Carballo with Korean Yikeun Chang claiming runners-up spot at Pondok Indah.
Among the famous Asian players to have had their names inscribed on the trophy are Frankie Minoza of the Philippines, Thais Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant, Chinese Taipei’s Lu Hsi-chuen and Lu Chien-soon, and Bhullar, victorious in 2013 and 2016.
Kasiadi is the only Indonesian golfer to have lifted the trophy, his triumph coming in 1989.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr and opened in 1976, Pondok Indah has been rated as one of the Indonesia’s leading golfing establishments for more than 40 years, hosting numerous professional events, including the World Cup of Golf in 1983.
Headquartered in Jakarta, Bank Mandiri is the largest bank in Indonesia in terms of assets, loans and deposits and offers businesses and individuals throughout Indonesia a full set of banking and non-banking products and services.
Murdaya Po, President of the Indonesian Golf Association added: “We are truly thankful to Bank Mandiri for its support. It promises to be a memorable week at Pondok Indah that will help signify the return of international tournament golf to our country.”
