By Jonathan V. Perez
Variety News Staff

JUNIOR golfer James Balajadia grabbed the opening Refaluwasch Golfers Association’s January Ace of the Month after no other golfer managed to surpass his score set in the monthly qualifier.
Balajadia shot a net 64 to beat six other RGA members in the club’s kickoff qualifying tournament for this year on Jan. 7 at the Marianas Country Club.
On Sunday’s Ace of the Month also at MCC, five-handicapper Adam Hardwicke fired a 73 to finish with a 68.
The 2006 RGA Club champion did not go away empty handed earning five points in the inaugural tournament.
RGA members that finish in the top three – in various golf tournaments on Saipan – will earn five, four or three points. The eight members with the highest accumulated points will represent RGA in the Ryder Cup-format tournament organized by LaoLao Bay Golf Resort this year.
The 14-handicapper Balajadia came in sixth with an 84 to finish with a net 70.
Carlos Salas placed second with a 69 while Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho was one-shot behind with a 70.
Camacho and RGA president Jess Wabol ended up tied but the former defeated the latter in the tiebreak.
Sonny Flores, 74, and Gus Camacho, 80, completed the participants.
Salas and Camacho earned four and three points while the rest of the participants got one point each.
Wabol reminded RGA members of the February qualifying tournament and the Monthly Ace on Feb. 3 and 18.
Wabol said they will move back at the east course of LaoLao Bay Golf Resort for the February tournaments. The tee time for both days is 12 noon.
Wabol is encouraging new members to join them for the year-long tournament. The membership fee is $50 for one year.
For more information about RGA-organized events, call Wabol at 233-3673, RGA treasurer Sonny Flores at 234-1748 or RGA Handicap chairman Tony Satur at 322-1562 or 63.