JJ Atalig and Niramai Koebel excelled in the CNMI Federation of Golf Associations’ national golf team tryouts at the Coral Ocean Golf Resort on Saturday.
In the men’s division, Atalig claimed the top spot with a net score of 77.
On the front nine, Atalig performed steadily. Despite a bogey on hole #1, he managed to stay at par for the remainder of the hole, clinching two birdies on holes #7 and #9 to put him well ahead of the competition with a 35 gross, one stroke below-par.
The back nine proved to be tougher for Atalig who had a double-bogey on hole #13 and four other bogeys to end with a gross of 42.
However, thanks to his stellar front nine performance, his gross total was 77, one stroke ahead of Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho who finished second.
Although he produced more bogeys than Atalig, Camacho shot a decent gross of 40 on the front nine and an improved gross of 38 on the back nine to amass a total score of 78.
Finishing third was Peter “Dung” Tenorio who scored 42 on the front nine and 38 on the back nine for a gross total of 80,
Chris Groves shared the same gross total but finished fourth while Harry Nakamura was fifth with a gross total of 81.
Women’s division
In the women’s division, Niramai Koebel stood out with three pars on the front nine for a gross of 45 and 50 on the back nine for a total gross of 95.
Taking second place was Janet Torres with 49 on the front nine and 51 on the back nine for a total gross of 100.
In third place was Rose Rohriner with 53 on the front nine and 54 on the back nine for a gross total of 107.
Junior division
Among the junior golfers, Li Zhi Yun and Zhimin Jin seized the spotlight.
In the junior men’s division, Li Zhi Yun shot an impressive 39 gross on the front nine including one birdie and stayed strong with 46 on the back nine for a gross total of 85.
Finishing second was Joshua Atalig who scored 43 on the front nine and 44 on the back nine for a gross total of 87.
Joey “Kazu” Dela Cruz was third with a gross total of 106 while Tonchu Norita finished fourth with a gross total of 109.
In the junior female division, Zhimin Jin scored 46 on the front nine and 41 on the back nine for a gross total of 87. Soarin Oh took second place with a gross total of 118 followed by Haram Lee with a gross total of 121 and Sophia Heras with a gross total of 162.
Officials of the CNMI Federation of Golf Associations pose with Pacific Mini Games chief executive officer Ben Babauta Jr., Coral Ocean Golf Resort CEO Brian Shin and general manager Calvin Park during a meeting at Fiesta Resort & Spa in June.
