Wabol lone wolf in Mini Games golf
By Mark Rabago
Assistant Editor
Saipan Tribune
Looks like Jess “Mr. Unorthodox” Wabol will be the CNMI's only entrant in the golf competition of the 2009
Cook Islands Pacific Mini Games.
This after Refaluwasch Golf Association, the sport's governing body in the CNMI, pulled out the names of
national team members Ralph Yumul, Carl Hocog, and Ben Duenas from the golf delegation due to
financial concerns.
In addition to the three players, coach and RGA president Jordon Kosam will also not be making the trip to
Rarotonga because of the shortage of funds.
“We really tried to beat the odds this year by trying our best to get a team to the Mini Games but four months
[to prepare and fundraise] was a very short time. Unfortunately the four of us-Ralph, Ben, Carl, and I-were
not able to meet the deadline by NMASA of Aug. 15 [to remit a portion of the funds for airfare and per diem],”
he said.
Kosam added that the national golf team solicited assistance from the Legislature and the Lt. Governor's
Office and were assured help to bridge their $7,500 shortfall.
However, the Commonwealth Ports Authority police chief said that the assistance unfortunately could only
be made possible after Aug. 15, which was the NMASA deadline.
“We requested NMASA's help to cover cost in the meantime and we would pay it back before our departure.
That was not made possible, too. Time was of the essence and also we noticed that we had burned more
time looking for sponsors than actually dedicating time for practice for the upcoming Games. It was useless
to participate with the minimal time of practice we committed,” said Kosam.
All is not lost though, as Kosam said that RGA will now be training its sites for the 2011 Pacific Games in
Noumea, New Caledonia.
For his part, Wabol said he will again be honored to represent the CNMI in the quadrennial event even if he
will be participating sans any teammate.
“There's nothing I can do. Too bad we will not be able to play in the team competition and it looks like I will
be playing in the singles,” he said in an interview with the Saipan Tribune.
The former Oleai Elementary School principal said he is keeping sharp by practicing his chipping and
putting at the Coral Ocean Point Golf Resort. He is also slated to take part in the Juan “Pan” Tenorio
Guerrero fundraising golf tourney tomorrow.
“Just a matter of playing good in the Mini Games. Experience will work for me. I'm not worried about other
people's game,” was Wabol's answer when asked how he thinks he will perform in the Cook Islands.
The opening ceremony of the Mini Games will be held in the afternoon of Sept. 21 at the Tereora Stadium in
Rarotonga.
The next day, Sept. 2, will be the start of the golf competition and it will run until Sept. 25.
TOC donation
In related news, Tournament of Champions chair Ben Babauta last Wednesday donated $200 worth of golf
gear to Wabol to help with his Mini Games stint.
The donation includes a dozen ProV1 golf balls and two official TOC polo shirts made by Nike.
Also present during the turnover ceremony held at DFS Galleria was Kosam, who thanked Babauta and his
company for the gesture.
“I am very grateful for Ben Babauta and Team TOC for their commitment in sponsoring our team uniforms
and Tietlist ProV1 golf balls for the team. We also want to thank Island Apparel and Yasu Hirinaka for their
support,” he said.
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From left, Rose Wanket, Jordon Kosan, Ben Babauta, Jess Wabol,
and Marida Pensader pose during the turnover of golf gear by DFS
Galleria to the Refaluwasch Golf Association last Wedneday.
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