The two-day event is bigger and better than ever with exciting hole-in-one prizes, golf ball drop and the chance to walk away with $1 million.
In honor of the 15th anniversary, the TOC tournament fee will be $175, which was the fee during the first tournament in 1996.
“We want our regular players know we appreciate their support for TOC, and hope that new players will be encouraged to join due to the lower price,” tournament director, Ben Babauta said.
The fee includes two days of golf and the awards banquet which will be held on Sunday at Laolao Bay’s The Grill Restaurant immediately following the tournament.
First place winners in the Men’s Championship, A, B, C, Senior and Super Senior Flights will each receive $600 cash, $500 for second, $400 for third, a digital camera to fourth, and $100 DFS gift certificate for fifth place.
The Ladies Low Gross champion will receive $600, $500 for second, and $400 for third place. The Ladies Low Net first through third places will receive a trophy.
Over $400,000 worth of prizes are at stake in the two-day tournament, including hole-in-one prizes worth $50,000 on both the east and west course courtesy of AON, three brand new cars from Joeten Motors, Triple J Motors and Microl. A Harley Davidson Motorcycle from American Iron Horse and $25,000 from Bank of Hawaii also be given as a joint hole-in-one prize. In addition, $1,000 will be awarded to closest to the pin winners on hole 15 – East.
“Our hole in one prizes are absolutely spectacular this year. Past players have won TOC hole in one prizes and we hope this year to have at least one over the two days”, Babauta added.
Something new for the 15th annual tournament will be a Golf Ball Drop. TOC players will have the chance purchase golf balls and win $15,000 if their ball is dropped in the designated area and selected by special drawing. The $1-million shootout will return with each ticket holder having five chances to walk away with $1 million dollars.
Since its inception, TOC has given over $500,000 to the Saipan Beautification Fund which has gone directly to the improvements of the tree-lined traffic medians that stretch from Garapan to the Saipan Nikko Hotel, as well as the revitalization of the Garapan special district. In addition, TOC also contributed funds for the Paseo de Marianas, the lighting of the Saipan Beach Pathway, and most recently the beatification of the Port to Park pathway. “We are proud of our continued commitment to enhance the beauty of Saipan for our tourists and residents.” Babauta, said. “It is the generous support of our golfers, sponsors and committee members that make this ebent possible”, he added.
In 2009, Guam golfer, Louie J. Sunga defended his title in the Men’s Championship Flight. Yong Man won second place, Joji Taguchi was third, Seung Woo Kang and Jong Won Lee were fourth and fifth place respectively.
Manny Mangarero won the Seniors Flight crown. In the A Flight, Tae Sung Seol won first place.
Yasu Irinaka was second, Philip Mark Santos was third, with and Sung Keun Kimfinishing 4th and Jessie K. Seman placing fifth. Rep. Diego T. Benavente topped the B Flight , followed by Jhun Calma, Ben Mabborang, Tony Rogolifoi and George Fleming. Yoshiro Yamamoto won the C Flight, Tony Sablan placed second and Martin Duenas was third.Manny Mangarero won the Seniors Flight crown, while Duke Yoo, Kwang Min and Mike Conley were in a three-way tie. Yoo won the Super Seniors title in a score card playoff.
In Ladies Flight, Yun Jeong Kim won low gross followed by Rose Tarpley in second place over Noriko Togawa. In the Ladies Low Net, Kimiko Abe came in first while Lorraine Babauta and Na Eun Song were second and third respectively.
This year’s TOC is supported by Platinum sponsors DFS Galleria, Marianas Visitors Authority, and Laolao Bay Golf Resort. Gold sponsors include Aon Insurance, American Iron Horse, Bank of Hawaii, Docomo Pacific, IT&E, Joeten Motors, Microl Corporation, Miller Lite, Nike Golf, Pepsi, Shell, Tan Holdings, and Triple J Motors. Other supporters are silver sponsors Budweiser, Elite Printing, Hard Rock Café, Jack Hardy Images Saipan, Saipan Computer Services and bronze sponsors Coca-Cola, Hyatt Regency Saipan, IConnect, Kautz Glass, KSPN Channel 2/Visitors Channel, KZMI/KCNM and Power 99.
New sponsorship benefits have been added for the 15th annual event. For more information about sponsorship opportunities for the 2010 TOC, contact Kathryn Barry at 287-2872. (PR)
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