Golfers Kaegel Taitano, Ben Jones Jr., Franco Santos, Joe Sasamoto Jr., Zhimin Jin, and Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho will represent the NMI in the 2023 Pacific Games, which will be held in the Solomon Islands from Nov. 19 to Dec. 2. Not in photo is another NMI team member, Marco Peter.
AFTER five tryout days, the Commonwealth Federation of Golf Association has announced the seven individuals who will comprise the NMI National Golf Team that will compete in the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands from Nov. 19 to Dec. 2.
On the the fifth and final day of the tryout, which followed a “walking” format, Zhimin Jin, Franco Santos, Joe Sasamoto Jr., Marco Peter, Ben Jones Jr., Kaegel Taitano and Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho stood out among the rest of the competition at LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort.
Zhimin Jin, who will play in the women’s division, shot a gross of 40 on the front nine and 38 on the back for a total gross score of 78.
Among the men, Santos led the pack with a gross of 37 and 35 on the front and back nines for a gross total of 72.
Sasamoto (38, 35) and Jones (35, 38) shared a gross total of 73; Camacho (37, 38) garnered a gross total of 75; Peter (39, 38) shot a gross total of 77; while Taitano (45, 45) obtained a gross total of 90.
In an interview, veteran and many time national golfer Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho said he believes that the NMI team has a good chance of bringing home the gold.
“We just need to work together,” he said. “Learn from each other, build chemistry among ourselves — that’s the only way we can play as a team. If there’s no chemistry, there is no team.”
Their player/coach will be named on Thursday.
“We would like to thank everyone that came out for the tryouts regardless of the results,” Camacho said. “We want to thank and recognize everyone for their support. With their help, we can go out there and represent the NMI. We would also like to support the rest of the NMI teams that are going to the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands.”
