Indonesian Golfers Dominate Ciputra Golfpreneur World Junior Golf Tournament

Elaine Widjaja and Rayhan Abdul Latif after winning the Mandiri Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior World Championship 2024 tournament at Damai Indah Golf, Pantai Indah Kapuk, 12-14 June. (Between)

JAKARTA - Indonesian golfers dominated the Mandiri Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior World Championship, which was held at Damai Indah Golf, Pantai Indah Kapuk, Jakarta on 12-14 June 2024. Rayhan Abdul Latif dominated the men's category, while Elaine Widjaja dominated the women's category.

As a better match for the men's and women's Best Gross Overall title, the two 17-year-olds were able to take the lead by eight punches at their toughest competitors. Elaine, who received tough competition from the world number 75 golfer, French de Brock from Belgium, ended the tournament with a score of 10 under 206.

"I feel very nervous. I don't know why my hands also feel more tense, even though I excel a lot, but I did face the last putt, then many watched it too. This victory is one way to pay for CGF's trust which has provided me with facilities so far," said Elaine, a golfer who has joined the Ciputra Golfpreneur Foundation (CGF) since 2022.

Meanwhile, Rayhan's success in winning Mandiri Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior Championship 2024, is a diversion from his failure last year. At the end of the tournament, Rayhan scored 11 under 205. He won eight punches in front of Japanese golfer Satoshi Nakano.

Thank God, I was able to play more freely in this tournament, besides that I could enjoy it more too. I think that's one of the reasons why I was able to get achievements this time. I want to dedicate this victory to my late father. I am happy with this achievement, but also sad because he can't accompany me," said Rayhan, a golfer who has been part of the CGF family since 2021.

This victory made Elaine the first Indonesian female golfer to win Mandiri Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior World Championship, since Rivani Adelia Sihotang in 2014.

Meanwhile, Rayhan became the fifth Indonesian golfer to win this event after Jovi Ocvandio Panggabean (2010), Jordan Surya Irawan (2011), Joshua Andrew Wirawan (2012), and Kentaro Nanayama (2019).

Not only in the category of Indonesian individuals winning, in the men's team the hosts also triumphed. The combination of Rayhan and William Justin put Team Indonesia 1 playing three strokes better than Satoshi Nakano and Kinjiro Kato who collected a total score of 432.

The Indonesian 2 team consisting of Jordan Surya Marcello and Asyrafa Danish Suryanto took third place with a total score of 442.