“Thank you for taking part in this year’s golf classics. I would like to thank everyone who participated along with our generous sponsors,” said HANMI’s chairman Nick Nishikawa during the banquet held at the Grand Hotel’s Seaside Hall.
Former Judge Edward Manibusan nailed first place in the senior’s flight with a gross of 76 followed by Saipan Golfer’s Association’s Nick Sablan and Steve Balakrishna with 81 and 83 respectively.
When asked which hole he had more difficulty getting through the former Judge replied, “All of the holes were difficult and challenging. But I stayed focus throughout the game and even though it was windy a little bit, overall the competition was great.”
Piedmont Community College’s Leina Kim stood atop the ladies flight grossing a 75 followed by CNMI Women’s Golf Association’s Yuko Togawa and Matilde Hocog with 85 and 89.
Kim has just recently arrived on Saipan from Piedmont Community College in Virginia. “I came back to Saipan to get ready for the cold weather to hit the states and practice some more. I also received a golf scholarship in Colorado so I will be making plans to move there soon,” said 19-year-old Kim in an interview with the Variety.
Kim has been playing golf for nine years and she told the Variety that she played the sport during her college days in Piedmont but only for recreational purposes.
When asked which part of the tournament was the hardest for her she said, “The Par 3’s were difficult for me for some odd reason the whole day.
The hot weather also surprised me because it was really hot today and it affected my performance just a little bit.”
Saipan Southern High School’s freshman Suk Joo Park Yoon managed to bag first place in the C-Flight despite having much older competition grossing an 83 followed by Kazumi Matsumoto stroking an 86 and tailed by John Matsumoto with an 87.
Xclusive Golf Association’s John Cepeda topped the B-Flight posting the best gross of 80 followed by Chai Ji Sung and Lee Young Woon totaling an 83.
Xclusive Golf Association’s JJ Atalig grossed an 80 to top the A-Flight followed by Lim Enoch Sung Soo at 82 beating Leo Jun Ganacias’ 84.
In the much awaited Championship Flight Jason Yi posted the day’s best gross overall totaling 36 in the front holes and a slightly higher 38 in the back to lead the 11-player flight.
Following Yi came Jeff Taylor’s 78. Taylor garnered 39 in the front and another 39 in the back holes.
LaoLao Bay Golf Resort’s driving instructor Bae Young Man placed third amazingly after topping the previous 9th Annual NMC Foundation’s Open Golf Tournament last April 30. The Korean golfer collared scored 37 in the front holes and 42 in the back for a total 79.
“Today’s weather was really windy. It affected the competition greatly because all of our scores are high,” said Yi in an interview with Variety. “But I tried my best and I was able to top the flight,” Yi added.
When asked how long he has been golfing and what part of the tournament was the hardest Yi replied, “I have been golfing for 15 years and hole no.8 was the most difficult. It was so hard I got a bogey in that hole.”
All first place winners of the flights received $500, a trophy, and a night’s stay at a HANMI-member hotel. Second place finishers received $300 and a trophy and third place winners received $200 and a trophy.
Other winners included Alex Sablan, Richard Brooks, Edward Manibusan, Manny Mangarero, and Kim Sun Suk for the Longest Drive on hole no.17.
Jay Cabrera, Mel Grey, and Jhun Calma received the Most Accurate award on hole no.8. Nearest to the Pin winners included Park Jin Woo, Diego Benavente, and Lee Jong Woo on pin no.14; Lee Yang Woo, Ulysses Kapileo, and Jack Salas on hole no.17; Kazumi Matsumoto, Jose Sablan, Roger Abe, Ed Cho, Nick Sablan, and Kang Seung Woo on hole no.3; Bob Hudkins, Kang Seung Woo, Rolein Babauta, Anthony Matutino, and Richard Brooks on hole no.12.
