Saipan Tribune

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Monday, March 11, 2013

Lizama tops Marriage Encounter golf fundraiser

Joe Lizama came away the winner of last Saturday's fundraiser golf tournament at the Marianas Country Club put on to support the CNMI Marriage Encounter Chapter.

Lizama bested 32 other golfers in the double-peoria event and won $300 cash, a Magellan lunch certificate courtesy of Pacific Islands Club, and free entrance into the upcoming Worldwide Marriage Encounter couples retreat.

On what was a chipper day to be on the links last Saturday, Lizama hit the turn with an even 40 and finished the back side of the course with a 49 for a gross tally of 89 that calculated into a field-low net total of 67.4.

Next in line came newcomer Gerry Dela Cruz, one of only two women competitors. She penciled in a pair of raw 51s for a gross count of 102 and took home runner-up honors with her net card of 69.6, good for $200.

Veteran Manny Mangarero rounded out the third spot and received a cool $100 with a solid raw card of 82. He started off with a 44 before roaring down the home stretch with a 38 and ended up with a 71.2 net total.

Right on his heels came Korean young gun Seun Soo Kang, who scratched down a 35 on the front side and logged a 40 on the back nine for a field-low gross score of 75, but was humbled with fourth place on a net sum of 71.4.

The final top field finisher was fifth placer Jess Stole who came in with a 49 after the first nine holes before finding some headwind on the back set with a 43 for gross round of 92 that worked into a 72.8 net score; he was issued.

Kang and Stole won cellphones and umbrellas courtesy of IT&E.

Additional side winners included longest drive winner Carl Hocog and closest to the Pin winners Joey Dela Cruz (hole No. 6) and George David (hole No. 12).

The side winners received cellphones courtesy of Docomo Pacific.

Marriage Encounter is a faith-based marriage enrichment program supported by the local Catholic church to help improve and strengthen the relationships of committed couples.

The program is set up more like a weekend retreat than a formal therapy or counseling session and is being offered on two occasions this year at Kanoa Resort Saipan. Registration for the group's upcoming retreat is open to the first 25 couples on a first come, first serve basis.

It costs $100 to participate and will be offered from April 19 through April 21. Rhe second date is slated for some time in October.

The tournament was coordinated by J.J. Atalig with help from sponsors Kanoa Resort, MCC, PIC, IT&E, Docomo Pacific, Pacific Trading Co., Coral Ocean Point Resort Club, Laolao Bay Golf Resort, and Gold's Gym.

Special thanks also goes out to Linda Muna, Russ Quinn, all of the participating couples, and the event volunteers for helping make the inaugural event a success.

For more information about Marriage Encounter, contact 2013 Spring session coordinators John and Michelle Tagabuel at 287-3264, email mitagabuel@gmail.com, or look up their blog page by name.