WITH the Pacific Mini Games set for June 2022, player/coach and team organizer Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho is hosting qualifier matches that may start next month to select the members of the CNMI men’s and women’s teams.
Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho tees off during a golf tournament at the LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort.
MV file photo
Each team will consist of two senior and two junior golfers with two alternates for each age category for a total of eight players on each team.
“I will see if I could start the initial qualifier by the first week or last week of February,” Camacho said. The qualifiers will be held monthly, but depending on how many golfers will participate in the first qualifier, he said they may hold two qualifiers a month instead of one.
But Camacho said topping a qualifier does not mean that the player has already locked a spot on the CNMI team. “Your continued participation is mandatory. Just because you are one of the top two players, if you do not show up for practice or commit your time, then that is what the alternates are there for,” he added.
“It is going to be a commitment to join this team because you are going to be representing, not just yourself, but the entire CNMI,” Camacho said.
Before starting the qualifiers, Camacho plans to hold a meeting on Friday, Jan. 29, at 5:30 p.m. at LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort so he can share his plans, and see how many players are interested in trying out for the teams.
“I want to start putting these teams together as soon as possible. I want them to get used to competition and what is it like to compete with other Pacific players. There are really good players out there. We want our players to see what is beyond the CNMI,” Camacho said.
If Camacho decides not to play, he will appoint team captains who will push the teams to practice every day. Camacho will work closely with the team captains and focus more on coaching.
Once the teams are established, Camacho will come up with a schedule for practices.
He noted that CNMI golfers have participated in international tournaments before such as the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa, the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu, and the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.
He believes that the CNMI could be a golf contender in the Pacific. “Believe it or not, we have so much talent here. The thing is, they are usually apprehensive of coming out and seeing what they can do. But these players have a lot of potential. People just don’t know that. There are a lot of golf players here on our islands. I want them to show their talent. It is not about winning or losing, it is about representing the CNMI,” Camacho said.
“Because they will be our ambassadors of the game, I want to promote this to the young generation. I’ve seen upcoming junior golfers and they are really good. If we help these kids, they will not only represent the islands in 2022 but in the years ahead and it could also help them in their future especially if they want to go to college.”
Camacho said he plans to launch a junior golf program with the help of the Marianas Golf Association very soon.
