Nick Sablan gets to keep RGA May Ace

Nick Sablan secured a spot in the year-ending RGA Cup after winning the Refaluwasch Golf Association April May title.

Sablan set the score to beat of 68 during the RGA May qualifying tournament two weeks ago when the club based its qualifying scores on the results of the Mt. Carmel fundraiser at the LaoLao Bay Golf Resort.

When RGA members returned to the Kagman golf facility for the second tournament of this month, Ray Tigilau beat Sablan’s score with the former firing a net 65. The 22-handicapper Tigilau drilled a 44 and 43 on the front and back nines, respectively, for a gross 87, but could not take the May plum, as he had already won the April Ace.

RGA rules prohibit a member to win multiple monthly titles so Tigilau only took the cash prize for last Sunday’s event, while Sablan kept the May Ace plum.

Placing second in the weekend tournament was February Ace Tars Olopai, who carded a net 69. The 8-handicapper Olopai logged a 38 on the front and 39 on the back for a gross 77.

Two players tied for third with Ulyses Kapileo and Louie Tilipao tallying identical net scores of 71. Kapileo won in the scorecard tiebreak with a net 37.5 on the front nine against Tilipao’s net 38. The 21-handicapper Kapileo recorded a 48 and 44 on the front and back nines for a gross 92, while Tilipao, who sports a 12 handicap, scored a 44 and 43 for a gross 87.

Twelve other RGA members joined the May Ace tournament, namely Ray Villagomez (80), Vince Attao (76), Dwayne Stephens (82), Joe Demapan (78), Manny Mangarero (73), Jordon Kosam (74), new member Joe Saures (93), Jess Wabol (72), Jesse Seman (80), Jack Sablan (81), Joe Wabol (81), and Tom Tebuteb (91).

Jess Wabol and Olopai won the closest to the pin contests on holes No. 3 and 13, respectively.

\Meanwhile, Jess Wabol, RGA’s tournament director, would like to thank the Attao, Villagomez, and Jack Sablan families for hosting an early dinner for club members.

He also wishes to congratulate RGA members who won in last Saturday’s 8th Annual HANMI Charity Golf Classic Tournament at the Coral Ocean Point course. Wabol added RGA hopes to see more club members participate in two upcoming fundraisers, the Tournament of Champions and NMC Golf, in support of having many community projects in the CNMI.

For more information on RGA tournaments, contact Jess Wabol at 288-1129 or RGA president Jordon Kosam at 483-4503.