VETERAN golfer Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho on Sunday topped the second round of the tryouts hosted by the CNMI Federation of Golf Associations which will select the members of the islands’ team that will compete in next year’s Pacific Mini Games.
Camacho was the only player to maintain a steady output. On the front nine, he made a bogey and a double-bogey. But he had more hits, including two birdies on holes #4 and #5 as he completed the rest of the holes at par to hold a gross score of 38.
The back nine proved to be a bit tougher but Camacho still kept his swing as he finished strong with two consecutive pars, ending with a birdie for a gross score of 40.
He finished first with a total net score of 78, six-over par.
In the first tryout, Camacho also sported a net score of 78 with two birdies.
Finishing second on Sunday was Franco Santos who shot a net score of 80. He had a balanced performance, scoring a gross of 40 on the front nine, and notching two birdies on holes #11 and #18 for another gross score of 40 on the back nine and a total net score of 80.
In third place was Fred Salaveria who had a rough start on the front nine with a gross of 43, but greatly improved his output on the back nine with a gross score of 38 for a total net score of 81.
In fourth place was Harry Nakamura who shot a gross of 41 on both the front and back nines for a net score of 82.
Finishing in a tie for fifth place with a net score of 84 were Peter “Dung” Tenorio and JJ Atalig who topped the first tryout.
Women’s division
In the women’s division, Niramai Koebel remained the top player with another first place finish, and this time with an improved net score.
She shot a gross of 47 on the front nine and 45 on the back for a net score of 92.
In second place was Lorraine Babauta who struggled on the front nine with a gross of 52, but made up for it on the back nine with a gross of 42.
Rose Rohriner finished third, clinching the only birdie in her division to bag a net score of 95.
Yuko Togawa settled for fourth place with a net of 96, Janet Torres was fifth with a net of 100, and Haram Lee was sixth with a net of 116.
Junior divisions
In the junior male division Li Zhi Yun remains the top golfer after bagging a net score of 89 that included a birdie on hole #17.
Joey “Kazu” Dela Cruz, for his part, notched a net score of 99.
In the junior female division, Zhimin Jin excelled with a net score of 85 while Soarin Oh was second with a net score of 111.
New rules
In related news, the CNMI Federation of Golf Associations has determined that there is more than ample time for a selected athlete to condition for a walking competition. Therefore, carts can be utilized during tryouts.
In addition, as recommended by the Pacific Games tournament director, the tee boxes will be adjusted because the proposed golf course total yardage is too long.
According to the federation, “Ultimately, the determining factor in player selection will boil down to the golf scores. Oct. 16 is the final tryout day. It is mandatory to play this game in order to make the team. This tryout will be a walking tournament. Athletes may choose to have a caddie during this game; however, they cannot sit nor lean on the cart.”
Players must participate in a minimum of three tryout games (Oct 16 included) as team selection will be based on the two lowest score plus the Oct. 16 score.
“If a player has begun training with walking during games, it’s to their advantage as they will have more endurance during practice, should they make the team,” the federation stated.
The participants of the second national golf team tryout pose for a photo Sunday at the Coral Ocean Golf Resort.
