Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho holds the Senior Flight trophy as he poses for a photo with Northern Marianas College Foundation member Roman Tudela, Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association President Mary Rhodes, NMC Regent Dr. Jesse Tudela, NMC Regent Zenie Mafnas, and NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD, during the awards banquet of the NMC Foundation’s 19th Annual Golf Open at LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort on Sunday.
Zhimin Jin holds the Ladies Flight trophy as she poses for a photo with Northern Marianas College Foundation member Roman Tudela, Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association President Mary Rhodes, NMC Regent Dr. Jesse Tudela, NMC Regent Zenie Mafnas, and NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD, during the awards banquet of the NMC Foundation’s 19th Annual Golf Open at LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort on Sunday.
NMI national team players Zhimin Jin and Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho ruled their respective flights in the Northern Marianas Collge Foundation’s two-day 19th Annual Golf Open tournament at LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort on Sunday.
A veteran golfer, Camacho typifies the saying “practice makes perfect” as he dominated the Senior Flight division with a two-day gross score of 149.
On day 1 on the west course, Camacho shot a gross of 40 on the front nine and tightened his swing on the back nine for a gross score of 36 and an accumulated gross of 76.
On day 2 on the east course, Camacho shot a gross of 37 on the front nine and 36 on the back for a gross total of 73.
With a two-day gross total of 149, Camacho won the Senior Flight title to take home the $800 cash prize.
In second place was Anthony Benavente who shot a gross of 78 on day 1 and 82 on day 2 for a two-day gross total of 160. Coming in third was Jeffrey Taylor who shot a gross of 82 and 79 for a two-day gross total of 161.
For Camacho, the rainy and windy conditions during the tournament were not major factors. “The course conditions weren’t a big thing for me because I actually like to practice during windy days, so I was prepared for it,” he said. “It’s the best time to practice. You must always practice in the worst conditions. When you practice in the worst conditions and build your skills around that, the course becomes very easy.”
However, the rain was another story as he did not have the right gear for it. When asked what the toughest hole was, he answered, “It was all of them with those conditions — it was tough.”
Camacho recorded six birdies. Three on day 1 on holes #8, #14 and #16, and three on day 2 on holes #1, #8 and #14.
Winning the Senior Flight title was a great accomplishment for Camacho, but he said what mattered more was having the privilege to play alongside golf legends Jeff Taylor and Mike Castro. “It was an honor to play with them because I know they have done their share of winning golf tournaments,” Camacho said.
He also thanked his sponsors, Marianas Carrier and Dung Tenorio. “Helping out in any event that’s doing it for a good cause is my thing,” Camacho said, referring to NMC.
The lady is a champ
2022 Pacific Mini Games gold medalist Zhimin Jin added another title to her collection by topping the Ladies Flight division.
On day 1 on the west course, Jin shot 40 on the front nine and 43 on the back nine for a gross total of 83. On the following day, she shot a gross of 38 on the front nine and 39 on the back nine for a gross total of 77.
With a two-day gross score of 160, Jin was named the Ladies Flight champion.
In second place was Young Hee Yoo who shot a gross of 82 on day 1 and 80 on day 2 for a two-day gross score of 162. Maea Jeon finished third with a gross score of 87 on day 1 and 80 on day 2 for a two-day gross total of 167.
C Flight winner
In the C flight division, Antonio Norita claimed the title by shooting a gross of 85 on day 1 and 82 on day 2 for a two-day gross total of 167.
In second place was James Lin who shot a gross of 85 on day 1 and 86 on day 2 for a two-day gross total of 171. Byungin Lee came in third with a gross of 88 on day 1 and 89 on day 2 for a two-day gross score of 177.
Antonio Norita holds the C Flight trophy as he poses for a photo with Northern Marianas College Foundation member Roman Tudela, Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association President Mary Rhodes, NMC Regent Dr. Jesse Tudela, NMC Regent Zenie Mafnas, and NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD, during the awards banquet of the NMC Foundation’s 19th Annual Golf Open at LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort on Sunday.
