Defending Champion Makes Flying Start

Bogor, West Java, Indonesia: Yutaka Toyoshima overcame an untimely bout of food poisoning to make a flying start to the defence of his Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Mid-Amateur Championship title.

Making light of the fact that he spent Monday in his hotel room recovering from a stomach upset meaning he was restricted to just one practice round, the Japanese expertly manoeuvred his way around the East Course at Gunung Geulis Country Club in five-under-par 66.

On an undulating layout that demands accuracy off the tee and with approach shots, Toyoshima was in his element, using his driver on just seven occasions and displaying class and experience in his course management.

“It’s a good test,” said the 49-year-old, who made six birdies on a day when preferred lies were permitted following heavy rain on Monday night. The solitary blemish on his card came at the 18th hole where he three-putted from long range.

“It’s not a long course, but it’s tight. You have to play carefully and be in the right position,” added Toyoshima, who won last year’s inaugural championship by eight strokes at Gading Raya Golf Club in Jakarta.

“Yesterday (when he was ill) I wasn’t sure how I’d play this week. But now, after the first round, I feel I have a good chance,” said Toyoshima, who made four birdies in a five-hole stretch from the sixth, including a tap-in at the par-five 10th where his wedge approach came within inches of disappearing below ground for an eagle.

Heading into Wednesday’s second round in the 54-hole stroke play event, Toyoshima holds a four-stroke advantage from compatriot Hiroki Chino and Zachary Kristian, the leading Indonesian.

Alit Jiwandana, fourth last year, is a further shot back after an even-par 71 which included a double-bogey seven at the 10th, while fellow-Indonesian Luke Moore is banking on local knowledge helping him to bridge the gap over the closing 36 holes.

The youngest player in the field, Moore turned 25 last month making him eligible to compete in his first Mid-Amateur.

The reigning club champion at Gunung Geulis, Moore plays the course two or three times a week and knows it like the back of his hand. Given that his best round on the East Course is 61 and just last Saturday he posted a 64, he was far from happy with his opening 74, which included just one birdie and three lost balls.

He said: “I gave myself a lot of birdie chances from 10-12 feet but didn’t take them. I set the bar a little higher for myself and I really want to win my first event in the Mid-Amateur category. With my knowledge of the course, I feel like I have an advantage … I just didn’t capitalise on that today. But I’m optimistic for the next two rounds.”

Without doubt, the wildest round of the day came from Raul Septiandi. The Indonesian’s fortunes fluctuated dramatically. Teeing-off from the 10th, he covered his first nine holes in relatively sedate fashion, four-over 40.

Then came the fireworks. After a bogey at the first, he struck a majestic eight-iron at the short second that found the cup for a hole-in-one. The glow of satisfaction soon wore off, however, as he ran up a nine at the par-four third.

The roller-coaster continued with a birdie at the fourth, bogey at the fifth, double-bogey at the sixth, birdie at the seventh, double-bogey seven at the long eighth and birdie-two at the ninth. It all added up to a front-nine 41 without a single par, and a score of 81. Septiandi won’t forget that round in a hurry.

Hosted by the Indonesia Golf Association, the event is open to amateur golfers who have reached their 25th birthday as of June 25, 2026, and whose WHS handicap index at the time of entry did not exceed 8.0.

The Mid-Amateur Championship has attracted entries from nine countries or territories and is being staged in four age divisions: Group A (ages 25 to 29); Group B (ages 30 to 37), Group C (ages 38 to 46) and Group D (aged 47 and above). Divisional leaders after round one are Kristian, Jiwandana, Sendy Susanto and Toyoshima.

In the team event in which the best two daily scores in each team of three are counted, Toyoshima’s Japan 1 share top spot Kristian’s Indonesia 1 on one-under-par 141. The champions will receive the Yapto Suryosoemarno Cup, donated by Yapto S. Soerjosoemarno, Chairman of the Indonesia Golf Association.

The APGC Mid-Amateur Championships are supported by SanQua, Hongsam Ball, Restoran Sederhana Masakan Padang and You.C1000 Isotonic Drink.

Leading Overall Scores

66 – Yutaka Toyoshima (Japan)
70 – Hiroki Chino (Japan); Zachary Kristian (Indonesia)
71 – Alit Jiwandana (Indonesia)
72 – Bryan Chiew (Brunei); Sendy Susanto (Indonesia)
73 – Hery Budinoto (Indonesia)
74 – Khushaal Thacksrey (India); Kyaw Ko Ko Chit (Myanmar); Luke Moore (Indonesia); Vignesh Ranga Rao (India) 

Group A
(aged 25 to 29)

70 – Zachary Kristian (Indonesia)
74 – Luke Moore (Indonesia)
76 – Kabuto Chigita (Japan)

 Group B
(aged 30 to 37)

71 – Alit Jiwandana (Indonesia)
72 – Bryan Chiew (Brunei)
74 – Khushaal Thacksrey (India); Kyaw Ko Ko Chit (Myanmar) 

Group C
(aged 38 to 46)

72 – Sendy Susanto (Indonesia)
74 – Vignesh Ranga Rao (India)
76 – Raj Randhawa (India)

Group D
(aged 47 and above)

66 – Yutaka Toyoshima (Japan)
70 – Hiroki Chino (Japan)
73 – Hery Budinoto (Indonesia)

Team Tournament
(Best two scores count)

141 – Japan 1 (Yutaka Toyoshima 66, Koichi Mizukami 75, Shigeta Hattory 75)
141 – Indonesia 1 (Zachary Kristian 70, Alit Jiwandana 71, Andy Sjaichudin 79)
146 – Japan 2 (Hiroki Chino 70, Kabuto Chigita 76, Dan Maeda 82)