Hole-in-one for Tydingco in 13th TOC

George Tydingco aced hole No. 15 in the east course of last Sunday’s 13th Tournament of Champions at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort.

While last year’s hole-in-one netted Japanese par-buster Koji Hashimoto a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer, Tydingco only got $500 for his effort, the same money collected by Microl Corp.’s Richard Jones on Saturday after winning the guaranteed closest to the pin cash prize in the same hole.

TOC organizing committee chairman Ben Babauta explained that even though Tydingco hit a hole-in-one in the 15th, the prize up for grabs for that particular hole sponsored by TOC was only for the closest to the pin.

So, despite pulling out an ace from his sleeve, the Department of Public Works Guam employee and two-time TOC participant was only awarded $500. Incidentally, Jones netted the $500 Saturday after his ball landed within 9’6” of the cup.

In the men’s two-day double Peoria category, Alfredo O. Asuncion was No. 1 with his 141.4 score, followed by James C. Lin with his 144.4 and Hidefumi Suzuki with his 144.8. Completing the Top 5 were Jesse Seman and Ray Dela Cruz with their post double Peoria scores of 144.8 and 145, respectively.

Like the winners of the Championship, A, B, C, Seniors, Super Seniors, and Ladies Low Gross, the winners of the double Peoria category won $600 for first place, $500 for second, and $400 for third.

Shirlyn Jones, meanwhile, topped the ladies low net category of the 13th TOC with her 149.8. Alice C. Taitano (148.8) and Yuko Togawa (150) came in second and third.

All winners also went home with handsome trophies courtesy of the TOC organizing committee.

As a recap, Guamanian Louie Sunga won the Championship Fligh with his two-day score of three-over par 147. Other winners were Jin Ahn (A Flight), Luis Byun (B Flight), Mel Grey (C Flight), Edward Manibusan (Seniors Flight), Lito Mendoza (Super Seniors Flight), and Noriko Togawa (Ladies Low Gross).

The 13th Tournament of Champions, which utilized both the east and west courses of the Kagman venue, drew a total of 195 golfers for a weekend of golf-for-a-cause.

This year’s TOC marked the 13th year of the tournament on Saipan. Since its inception, TOC has given over $500,000 to the Saipan Beautification Fund. This money has been used for the traffic medians from Garapan to the Palms Resort Saipan, the revitalization of the Garapan special district, the enhanced beautification of the Paseo de Marianas, lighting of the Beach Pathway, landscaping on the port to path walkway and other beautification projects.