The TOC tournament fee remains at $175, which was the fee during the first tournament in 1996.
“Last year we had many new players and our regular participants told us they really appreciated the lower price, especially with the current economic situation,” said tournament director Ben Babauta.
The fee includes two days of golf and the awards banquet, which will be held on Sunday at Laolao Bay’s The Grill Restaurant after the tournament.
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 Insurance and two brand new cars from Joeten Motors and Triple J Motors. There will be two Business Elite tickets to the US courtesy of Delta Airlines and $25,000 from Bank of Hawaii to round out the hole-in-one prizes. In addition, $1,000 will be awarded to closest to the pin winner and a hole-in-one prize of a year of free golf courtesy of LaoLao Bay Golf and Resort.
“Our tournament awards and hole-in-one prizes have made TOC the most popular golf tournament in the Marianas. We are looking forward to one of our players hitting a hole-in-one and taking home a big prize,” Babauta added.
Over the last 15 years, TOC has given over $500,000 to the Saipan Beautification Fund which has most recently been used to improve the tree-lined traffic medians in Chalan Piao, Dandan, and Susupe. Funds were also used for the revitalization of the Garapan special district. In addition, TOC contributed funds for the Paseo de Marianas, and the beautification of the Port to Park pathway.
“Most of these projects require regular maintenance and we are happy to not only complete the initial projects, but keep them beautiful for our tourists and residents to enjoy,” Babauta said. “It is very important to thank our golfers, sponsors and committee members who make it possible to continue these projects.”
First place winners in the Men’s Championship, A, B, C, Senior, and Super Senior Flights will each receive $600 cash. $500 will be awarded to second finishers with $400 for third, a digital camera to fourth, and $100 DFS gift certificate for fifth place.
The Ladies Low Gross champion will receive $600, and $500 and $400 is awarded to second and third place winners, respectively. The Ladies Low Net first through third place winners will receive a trophy.
Last year, TOC first timer Geon Ju Lee of Korea won the Men’s Championship Flight with Jin Woo Park and Bae Young Man in a tight race for second and third.
In the A Flight, Xian Lai Cui was first with Nathan Zhao and Tars Olopai placing second and third, respectively. In the B flight, Young Woo Lee won the scorecard tiebreak over Prescil D. Azarcon and Hyoung Kim Il won third. Eun Sam Cui won the C flight and Danny Quitugua had a second place finish with Takashi Nakata placing third.
Tony Satur topped the Senior flight with Edward Manibusan and Vic Borja tying for second. Manibusan was awarded second place by scorecard tiebreak and Borja third. In the Super Senior Flight, Duke Yoo won first, Bill Garris was second, and Jesus M. Taitano was third.
In the Ladies Flight, Leina D. Kim won low gross followed by Noriko Togawa in second place over Jung Yoom Kim. In the Ladies Low Net, Young Hee Yoo came in first while Sun Park placed second and Sherlyn P. Jones won third.
This year’s TOC is supported by Platinum sponsors DFS Galleria, Marianas Visitors Authority, and Laolao Bay Golf and Resort. Gold sponsors include AON Insurance, Bank of Hawaii, Docomo Pacific, IT&E, Joeten Motors, Miller Lite, Nike Golf, Pepsi, Shell, Tan Holdings, and Triple J Motors.
Silver sponsors include Budweiser, Hard Rock Café, Jack Hardy Images Saipan, Saipan Computer Services, KSPN Channel 2/Visitors Channel, and KZMI/KCNM.
Bronze sponsors include Asiana, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Island Apparel, Kautz Glass, Herman’s Modern Bakery, and Rota Water.
For more information about sponsorship opportunities for the 16th Annual TOC, contact Jim Arenovski at 287-7037. Golfers who wish to register should go to www.tocsaipan.com.
