NICK Sablan and Joseph Sasamoto have proven, once again, that age is just a number as they displayed the power behind their swing by topping their respective flights in the Marianas Variety Founder’s Memorial Golf Tournament on Saturday at Laolao Bay Golf & Resort west course.
Sablan came out on top of the Super Senior Flight with a gross total of 84.
It was Sablan’s front nine performance that gave him the edge over the competition as he ended with a three-over par and a gross of 39. However, the back nine gave him a hard time as the wind added an extra challenge to the already tough course. He managed to complete the nine holes with a gross of 45 and a total score of 84 which was enough to secure the first-place spot.
Sablan received $500 cash along with gift certificates from Subway and a bottle of a 21-year-old Ballantine’s whisky from Titan Imports.
In second place was Edward Manglona who held a steady swing throughout the course with a gross of 43 on the front nine and 42 on the back nine for a gross total of 85. He won $300 cash, Subway gift certificates and a bottle of wine from R&J Liquor Store.
Finishing third was Tony Satur who shot a gross of 46 on the front nine and 41 on the back nine for a gross total of 87. He received $200 cash, Subway gift certificates and a bottle of wine from R&J Liquor Store.
Eleven players competed in the Super Senior Flight.
3-way tie
In the Senior Flight, Joseph Sasamoto, Joe Camacho and Joseph Sablan Jr. finished in a three-way tie with a gross total of 77.
The scorecard playoffs broke the tie.
Sasamoto’s ability to adapt was his biggest advantage. He struggled on the front nine, recording only one birdie to end with a gross of 41. However, he stepped up his game in the transition to the back nine with four birdies for a gross of 36 which gave him the better tie-break score and the top spot.
Sasamoto received $500 cash, Subway gift certificates and a bottle of 21-year-old Ballantine’s whisky from Titan Imports.
“It was a tough day today,” he said. “There was a lot of pressure but I enjoyed it. I came and played my best and my best was good enough.”
He said his 10-foot birdie on hole #5 was the shot that got him into the scorecard playoffs.
Joe Camacho made one birdie on hole #12 to edge Joseph Sablan Jr. for second place.
Camacho received $300 cash, Subway gift certificates and a bottle of red wine from R&J Liquor Store.
Sablan Jr., who placed third, brought home $200 cash, Subway gift certificates and a bottle of red wine from R&J Liquor Store.
Twenty players vied for the top spot in the Seniors Flight of the golf tournament which was held to honor the memory of Marianas Variety’s founding publisher, Abed E. Younis, as part of the newspaper’s 50th anniversary celebration.
A total of 142 players participated in the tournament which also raised funds for Karidat Social Services.
Joseph Sasamoto, 2nd left, poses with Marianas Variety President Amier Younis, left, and siblings Farah Younis, 2nd right, and Salam Younis during the awards ceremony of the MV Founder’s Memorial Golf Tournament at Laolao Bay Golf & Resort on Saturday.
Nick Sablan 2nd left, poses with Marianas Variety President Amier Younis, left, and siblings Farah Younis, 2nd right, and Salam Younis during the awards ceremony of the MV Founder’s Memorial Golf Tournament at Laolao Bay Golf & Resort on Saturday.
