JOSHUA Atalig, one of the NMI athletes that competed in the recent 2022 Pacific Mini Games 2022, will see action in two separate golf tournaments in the states this month.
Atalig was invited by the American Junior Golf Association to play at the K.J. Choi Foundation Junior Championship on July 11 at The Golf Club at Hawks Prairie in Lacey, Washington; and at the qualifier for the AJGA Junior at the Peach Tree Golf & Country Club in Marysville, California on July 18.
During the four-day tournament of the Mini Games that Saipan hosted recently, the 15-year-old Marianas High School student placed 19th overall against 30 other golfers.
Atalig believes that taking his talents off-island will only expand his golf skills. “Competing in the mainland will give me more opportunities,” he added.
Asked what he wants to achieve in the U.S., he said, “I want to win.”
With no caddies allowed for the tournaments, Atalig will be competing solo. But he said that will not affect his performance. “The Mini Games have prepared me to take on bigger challenges,” he added.
His father and fellow golfer JJ Atalig believes that his son will be giving it his all in the two tournaments.
“Whether he places or not, I know he’ll do his very best,” JJ said. “There’s a lot of talented and strong junior golfers, as we’ve seen in the recent PMG. It was an eye-opener for him and for us as well. But he’s been training daily since the PMG ended. Considering he has worked hard and trained for the PMG since last November, I’m confident he’ll do well. Our family and friends are so proud of him, and we hope the CNMI feels the same. I wish my son all the luck and God’s blessings!”
Joshua Atalig
