Saipan Tribune

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Dela Cruz tops MGA February Ace

Amidst the unfavorable weather, Geri Delas Cruz topped 27 other competitors in the Marianas Golf Association's February Ace of the Month Tournament held last Feb. 17 at the Coral Ocean Point Golf Resort.

A total of 12 male participants teed off from the blue championship tee and 14 from the white intermediate box with Dela Cruz and one other female contender teeing up from the red ladies tee.

The February Ace of the Month was a close race between Dela Cruz, one of the two females that participated in this tournament, and Mike Sablan as they came away with matching net scores of 68. However, due to MGA's tie-breaker rule, Dela Cruz bagged top honors in the end.

She shot a 48 in the front nine and followed it with a 50 on the back to a gross of 98, while Sablan settled for second, despite a gross round of gross of 80. He started out with a 43 and finished with a 37 after the turn.

MGA president Carl J. Hocog rounded out the third spot after shooting a gross score of 80 that factored into a 69 net total. Other notables include championship tee contender Joey Dela Cruz (83 gross, 71 net) who finished fourth from the blue tee ahead of fifth placer Ernest Sablan (97 and 73).

Dela Cruz also won closest to the pin spoils in holes No. 3 and 7 with Hocog taking hole No. 12 and J.J. Atalig claiming hole No. 14.

Club Hocog indicated that MGA is still inviting members of the community to join their organization. Its annual membership fee of $50 is due before next month's tournament, which is scheduled for March 24 at the Kingfisher Golf Links. Show time is set for 9am leading into a 10am tee off.

Hocog would also like to thank everyone who participated in this month's tournament, Coral Ocean Point for their partnership, and Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Atalig and family for hosting the group at their residence.

In addition, Hocog extends his gratitude to Marianas Country Club for the partnership and to Rep. and Mrs. Tony Benavente for hosting the group's January Ace event.

MGA tournaments are played with a handicap system where players with a handicap of 10 and under tee off from the championship tee (blue tee), those with a handicap of 11 and above tee off from the men's white tee, and the female participants tee off from the female red tee. MGA takes pride in their handicap system, as most other organizations do not utilize the championship tee during their ace of the month tournaments. To compensate members who teed off from the championship tee, a plus 2 handicap is added to their standing for a competitive tournament.

For more information and further updates about upcoming tournaments, contact J.J. Atalig at 285-4115, Greg Sablan Jr. at 483-8263, or email marianasgolf670@gmail.com. Also visit MGA's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MarianasGolfAssociation.