Palik Thomson, COP assistant manager said in an interview yesterday that Nelson’s visit on Saipan is to join the COP’s 20th Anniversary celebration.
He said it is Nelson’s fourth visit since he designed COP’s golf course 20 years ago.
Years before Tiger Woods rose into fame, Nelson, now a member of Senior Professional Golfers’ Association Tour is among the four famous golfers who won three major championships in the 80s.
The others were Jack Nicklaus, Tom Matson and Steve Ballesteros.
Nelson won the U.S. Open Championship in 1983 and the PGA in 1981 and 1987. He is also with the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 1979, 1981 an d1987. He is the only golfer to post a 5-0 record in a single Ryder Cup which has maximum of 5 matches.
Thomson said Nelson will be arriving on Saipan on June 19 with COP owner, Kiyoshi Ge and will be teeing off with invited local golfers and guests at the COP’s course.
At 3:30 p.m., yesterday, Kiyoshi Murota, a two-time champion in Japan and also a member of Senior PGA arrived from Japan.
Starting yesterday, Thomson said guests kept arriving to join COP’s anniversary.
Murota he said will be giving out golf clinic to invited local and visiting golfers on Saturday.
NMI ace golfer, Jess I. Wabol in a separate interview said three members of the Refaluwasch Golf Association including himself were invited to join Nelson.
Also in celebration of the COP’s anniversary, they will also hold the Fourth Blue Tee Challenge Open Tournament on July 5 and 6.
The Double Peoria Scoring will be on July 5 and the Shoot-out for Champion will be on July 6.
The deadline for entries and fee will be on July 2, and forms will be available at COP Pro Shop.
For more information, please contact Thomson at 234-7000, extension 650 or 651.
