Sunga shot a score of 71 in Day 1 and 74 yesterday in Day 2 for a score of 145 for the tournament.
Sunga squeaked past second placer and defending champion Geon Ju Lee, who was one stroke behind for a score of 146 after posting 73’s on both days.
When asked how he felt after topping the 200-golfer field, Sunga said he is excited and happy, but acknowledged that he was nervous heading into Day 2 of the event.
“I was nervous coming into Sunday. [Lee] is a solid golfer, but I held it together on the second day despite his better round, and I was fortunate enough to come out on top,” he told Variety.
Placing third in the Championship Flight was Daryl Poe, who stroked it for a score of 151 after shooting 78 and 73 on Day 1 and Day 2, respectively.
Rounding out the top five were Jong Won Lee and Jason Yi both scoring 156, but Lee posted the lower Day 2 score of 77 to win the tiebreaker.
In the Men’s Open A Flight, Do Hyun Kim topped his field by firing a pair of 80’s for a score of 160.
Second placer Ned Q. Norita was a stroke behind after posting a 161, while Yongwoon Choz placed third after shooting a 163.
Alexander A. Sablan and Ralph N. Yumul scored 166 and 168, respectively for 4th and 5th place in the flight.
Yoji Ozeki took B Flight with a score of 158.1 after narrowly defeating Hisato Komatsu, who posted a 158.2. Coming in third was Changsik Choe, who shot 160 after shooting a pair of 80’s.
C Flight belonged to Lawrence Camacho after he shot a 164 and distanced himself from the rest of his field. John M. Reyes, Jr., Shi Hong Jin, and Sean Lee each scored a gross of 172, but Reyes shot the lower Day 2 score, 86, to Jin’s 88 and Lee’s 90.
Barry Wilson won the Senior’s Open by posting a score of 155 after shooting 75 and 80 on Day 1 and Day 2, respectively. Tadashi Umezawa placed second after posting a 156.1. Behind by only decimal points was Vic Borja, who finished third after posting a score of 156.2.
In the Super Senior’s Flight, Duke Yoo came out victorious scoring 162 after shooting a pair of 81’s. Dae Young Yoon was not far behind with a score of 164 to bag second. William “Bill” A. Payne grabbed the third spot by posting a 171. Manuel Blas and John Sheather finished 4th and 5th after scoring 172 with Blas having the lower Day 2 score of 90 to Sheather’s 91.
But one of the stories of the day was Ladies Open Low Gross winner Leina Kim, who went 7-under-par, 65, in Day 1, much to the delight of the crowd during the awards ceremony.
Kim topped her flight with a total gross of 139 after finishing off her strong tournament with a Day 2 score of 74.
Noriko Togawa placed second with 151, while third placer Jeong Yoon Kim scored 159.
In the Ladies Low Net, Masayo Miyamoto bagged first, while Shiori Onoue and Aiga S. Payne placed second and third respectively.
Winners in the Men’s Open Championship, A, B, C, Seniors, and Super Seniors flights received $600 cash for topping their respective fields, $500 for placing second, $400 for third, a digital camera for fourth, and fifth placers received a $100 Duty Free Shop gift certificate.
The Ladies’ low-gross flight winners received $600 for first, $500 for second, and $400 for third place.
The three best Ladies’ low-net competitors were awarded trophies.
Most of the winners also received special bottles of Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky.
Various prizes were also awarded to players and guests during the TOC raffle such as 19-inch flat screen televisions, golf gear, microwaves, tower fans, hotel stays, and many more.
Tournament coordinator Ben Babauta thanked the event’s sponsors for the patronage and contributions to the event’s success.
This year’s TOC is supported by platinum sponsors DFS Galleria, Marianas Visitors Authority, and Lao Lao Bay Golf & Resort. Gold sponsors include AON Insurance, Bank of Hawaii, Budweiser, Delta, Docomo Pacific, IT&E, Joeten Motors, Nike Golf, Saipan Computer Services, Shell, Tan Holdings, and Triple J Motors. Other supporters are silver sponsors Hard Rock Café, Jack Hardy Images Saipan, KSPN Channel 2/Visitors Channel, KZMI/KCNM, Miller, Pepsi, Power 99/The Kat, and bronze sponsors Asiana, Chong’s Corporation, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Island Apparel, Kautz Glass, Rota Water and Triple B Forwarders.
