By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff
A VISITING golfer from Guam turns $500,000 richer after shooting the hole-in-one during the two-day
Tournament of Champions in Laolao Bay Golf Resort that concluded yesterday.
Louie J. Sunga who birdied twice in the back nines in second round of the tournament yesterday topped the
Championship Flight with a total gross of 147.
George Tydingco who was among those who traveled all the way from Guam to participate in the 13th
annual tournament made it in the hole No. 15, at the golf resort’s East Course.
Also up for grabs was $5 million for the five players who would have won in the Million Dollar Shootout.
However, nobody among the participants whose ticket numbers were picked, have made it in the shoot-out.
Tournament coordinator, Ben Babauta said this year’s TOC had a better turn out compared to last year.
He said 208 non pro players participated this year together with visitors from Japan, Korea, Guam, Rota and
Tinian.
Although nobody walked away a millionaire, the shoot-out “chance of a lifetime” in which lucky players teed
off into special hole was among the exciting events of the tournament.
Sunga struggled with 3-over par 39 in the front nine but improved in the back nine where he went even par
36 during the first round on Saturday.
He was one stroke better yesterday in the front nine firing 2-over par before he birdied twice in the back nine
going 2-under par 34.
Gi Yeong Kim was just one stroke behind Sunga, with 148 gross. He fired 1-over par during the first round
and went 3-over par in the final round yesterday.
Adam Hardwicke placed third as he fired 2-over part in the first round and 4-over par yesterday and Charlie
Jo settled for fourth grossing 151.
Jess I. Wabol tied with Joung Hoon Park as they both eked out a gross of 152, but Wabol won the fifth place
in the scorecard playoff.
The first place winners were to bring home $600; second place, $500; third place, $400; fourth place, DVD
video combo and fifth place, $100.
Luis Byun grossed 78 and 80 in the first and second round respectively to top the B Flight. Mario Salas
came next to him with a gross of 160.
New heart, new wife, new shoes and new club
Another exciting part of the game when Immigration Division director, Melvin Grey went into sudden death
playoff with Ted Q. Malaran in the C Flight after they tied.
In the first attempt to win the first place in the playoff, both of them bogeyed in the hole No. 17.
They teed off for the second try where they both pared.
Grey whose bad drive sent the ball on the neighboring 18th hole’s rough managed to get a good position
and distance to the targeted hole.
He bogeyed here but won the playoff when Malaran double-bogeyed.
Grey who had just gone through heart surgery said he went lucky with his “new heart.”
His new wife whom he married in November last year actually saved his life by detecting his heart problem
early.
In the tournament, he said he got himself stuffs including a new club and a new pair of shoes.
With all these new things in his life, he said he got lucky to win the tournament.
Retired Judge Edward Manibusan topped the Seniors Flight with a total gross of 154, and Pablo Mendoza
grossed 161 to top the Super Seniors Flight.
In the Ladies Flight, Noriko Togawa won the first place with a gross of 161.
|
|
