Over $400K in prizes at stake in TOC
Saipan Tribune
The 15th Annual Tournament of Champions, the premier golf event on Saipan, will be played on July 31 and
Aug. 1 at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort.
The two-day event is bigger and better than ever with exciting hole-in-one prizes, golf ball drop, and the
chance to walk away with $1 million dollars.
In honor of the 15th anniversary, the TOC tournament fee be $175, which was the fee during the first
tournament in 1996.
“We want our regular players know we appreciate their support for TOC, and hope that new players will be
encouraged to join due to the lower price,” 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 immediately following the tournament.
First place winners in the Men's Championship, A, B, C, Senior, and Super Senior Flights will each receive
$600 cash, $500 for second, $400 for third, a digital camera for fourth, and $100 Duty Free Shoppers gift
certificate for fifth place.
The Ladies Low Gross champion will receive $600, $500 for second, and $400 for third place. The Ladies
Low Net first through third places will receive a trophy.
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, three brand new cars from Joeten Motors, Triple
J Motors, and Microl Corp.
A Harley Davidson motorcycle from American Iron Horse and $25,000 from Bank of Hawaii also be given as
a joint hole-in-one prize. In addition, $1,000 will be awarded to closest to the pin winners in hole No. 15 of
the east course.
“Our hole-in-one prizes are absolutely spectacular this year. Past players have won TOC hole in one prizes
and we hope this year to have at least one over the two days,” Babauta added.
Something new for the 15th edition o fthe tournament will be a Golf Ball Drop. TOC players will have the
chance purchase golf balls and win $15,000 if their ball is dropped in the designated area and selected by
special drawing.
The $1-million shootout will return with each ticket holder having five chances to walk away with $1 million
dollars.
Since its inception, TOC has given over $500,000 to the Saipan Beautification Fund which has gone directly
to the improvements of the tree-lined traffic medians that stretch from Garapan to the Palms Resort, as well
as the revitalization of the Garapan special district.
In addition, TOC also contributed funds for the Paseo de Marianas, the lighting of the Saipan Beach
Pathway, and most recently the beatification of the Port to Park pathway.
“We are proud of our continued commitment to enhance the beauty of Saipan for our tourists and residents.”
Babauta, said. “It is the generous support of our golfers, sponsors and committee members that make this
event possible.”
In 2009, Guam golfer, Louie J. Sunga defended his title in the Men's Championship Flight. Bae Yong Man
won second place, Joji Taguchi was third, Seung Woo Kang and Jong Won Lee were fourth and fifth place,
respectively.
In the A Flight, Tae Sung Seol won first place.Yasu Irinaka was second, Philip Mark Santos was third, with
and Sung Keun Kim finishing fourth and Jessie K. Seman placing fifth. Rep. Diego T. Benavente topped the
B Flight, followed by Jhun Calma, Ben Mabborang, Tony Rogolifoi, and George Fleming.
Yoshiro Yamamoto won the C Flight, Tony Sablan placed second, and Martin Duenas was third. Manny
Mangarero won the Seniors Flight crown, while Duke Yoo, Kwang Min, and Mike Conley were in a three-way
tie for second. Yoo won the Super Seniors title in a scorecard playoff.
In Ladies Flight, Yun Jeong Kim won low gross followed by Rose Tarpley in second place over Noriko
Togawa. In the Ladies Low Net, Kimiko Abe came in first, while Lorraine Babauta and Na Eun Song were
second and third, respectively.
This year's TOC is supported by Platinum sponsors DFS Galleria, Marianas Visitors Authority, and Laolao
Bay Golf Resort. Gold sponsors include Aon Insurance, American Iron Horse, Bank of Hawaii, Docomo
Pacific, IT&E, Joeten Motors, Microl Corp., Miller Lite, Nike Golf, Pepsi, Shell, Tan Holdings, and Triple J
Motors. Other supporters are silver sponsors Budweiser, Elite Printing, Hard Rock Café, Jack Hardy Images
Saipan, Saipan Computer Services and bronze sponsors Coca-Cola, Hyatt Regency Saipan, IConnect,
Kautz Glass, KSPN Channel 2/Visitors Channel, KZMI/KCNM, and Power 99.
New sponsorship benefits have been added for the 2010 ToC. For more information about sponsorship
opportunities for the 2010 ToC, contact Kathryn Barry at 287-2872.
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