Michael Castro, winner of the seniors open flight, poses for a photo with Northern Marianas College President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD, NMC Foundation board member Michael Sheu, NMC Regent Michelle Sablan, NMC Regent Jesse Tudela and NMC Foundation board member Tayna Belyeu-Camacho during the NMC Golf Open awards ceremony at the LoaLao Bay Golf & Resort on Sunday.
The top 3 ladies open flight players — Me Ae Jeon, Tyanna Jacot, and Zhimin Jin — pose for a photo with NMC and tournament officials during the NMC Golf Open awards ceremony at the LoaLao Bay Golf & Resort on Sunday.
MICHAEL Castro and Me Ae Jeon shared the spotlight in the two-day Northern Marianas College Golf Open as they topped their respective divisions at Laolao Bay Golf & Resort.
Castro, who is from Guam, made his visit to Saipan worth it as he claimed first place in the seniors open flight.
Castro, 56, said the toughest part of the tournament was day 1 as he had never played on the east course before.
He managed to put in some practice a day before the tournament but still struggled on day 1 as he was not able to sink any birdies, ending with a gross total of 79. The par 3s on the east course were the toughest, he said. “Not playing the golf course and not knowing the distance is always hard,” he added.
But Castro managed to redeem himself on day 2 on the west course where he he rallied his way to the top with two title-worthy birdies for a gross total of 73. With a net score of 152, he secured the $500 first prize.
When asked how he was able to “conquer” a tournament where he was a visitor, he responded, “I wouldn’t call it ‘conquer’ because I was five strokes behind. But I played well, it was a great day and I had fun. Everything was working today — driver, putting, chipping in — it all clicked. And those two birdies made the difference because I only won by two strokes.”
He added, “It’s always worth coming here; Saipan is a great place. I’m dedicating this win to my wife, Clara Castro, and grandkids.”
In second place was Federico Flores who shot a gross of 80 on day 1 and 74 on day two for a net score of 154. He took home a $300 cash prize.
Joseph Sasamoto, who was bested by Flores in a score-card playoff, settled for the $200 third prize.
Ladies open flight
In the ladies open flight, Me Ae Jeon bagged the title by one stroke.
Like Castro, the 63-year-old golfer greatly struggled on day 1 which was riddled with bogeys as well as a double-bogey on hole #8 as she ended with a gross score of 83.
Despite the rough start, Jeon recovered on day 2 as she closed the west course with a gross score of 74 and a net score of 157 to clinch the title and the $500 first prize.
Jeon has 18 years of experience as a golf player and has won previous tournaments hosted by NMC as well as the Tournament of Champions and the HANMI Charity Classic Golf Tournament.
In second place was Tyanna Jacot who shot a gross of 79 on both days, for a net score of 158. She took home $300.
Coming in third was Zhimin Jin who shot a gross of 81 on day 1 and 80 on day 2 for a net score of 161. She won $200.
