Joe Sasamoto Jr., center, poses with the Championship Flight trophy alongside Committee Chair Shigeki Tenorio, left, and Tournament Director Peter “Dung” Tenorio during the awards ceremony of the 2024 Joeten Memorial Classic at LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort on Saturday.
JOE Sasamoto Jr. bested 12 other competitors by shooting three-over par for a gross score of 74 to win the Championship Flight of the 2024 Joeten Memorial Classic at the east course of LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort on Saturday.
Like the other competitors, Sasamoto started off with a couple of bogeys, but it was his ability to adjust and adapt that separated him from the rest as he closed the front nine with two birdies for a gross of 38.
The back nine was where Sasamoto shined.
After a bogey on hole #10, Sasamoto followed up with a birdie and a handful of pars to solidify his spot at the top. Then on the 18th and final hole, the veteran golfer added the icing on the cake with a birdie to secure the title with a total gross score of 74.
In second place was Ned Norita who shot a gross of 38 on the front and back nines for a gross total of 76. Coming in third was Ben Jones Jr. who shot a gross of 38 on the front nine and 39 on the back for a total gross of 77.
‘Hold your breath’
In an interview, Sasamoto said his best hole was #18. “If I parred the two holes, I was OK but if I birdied the last hole, that was a big moment. It was a big relief, and it also felt good. It was one of those times when you hold your breath for 17 holes and finally release it on the 18th hole.”
Sasamoto said the 2024 Joeten Memorial Classic was challenging. “The course was hard, but I tend to stay within myself and play my game even though I play around friends. I pat myself on the back because it is always hard to win — but to win for the first time is always special.”
Sasamoto said it was an honor to win his first title by topping the Joeten Memorial Classic.
“[Tournament Director] Dung [Tenorio] and his dad were a big part of my life. I used to work for Joeten Motors so this was definitely one of my goals,” Sasamoto said.
He could have played for the “much easier” Senior Flight, but he had already committed to the Championship Flight. “That’s where the good players are and it’s always the flight to win,” he said. “Ever since I played as a teenager, I always played in the Championship Flight. If you want to win a flight in a golf tournament, it has to be the Championship Flight,” he added.
He said he owed it all to his dad, Jose A. Sasamoto. “I’m here and the reason I won is because of him.”
The next Joeten Memorial Classic will be held in five years. “I hope that I’m still healthy enough and young enough because I will compete,” Joe Sasamoto Jr. said. “I love competition.”
‘A little bit different’
During the awards ceremony, Tournament Director Peter “Dung” Tenorio thanked the sponsors as well as the golf clubs that participated in the fundraising event. “We wanted to make this nice for you guys and a little bit different since we play the same course 365 days of the year,” he said.
144 golfers participated in the tournament.
The results for the A, B, C, Ladies, Senior and Super Senior Flights will be featured in Variety’s next edition.
