Abalos tops Round 1 of Aces of Aces tourney

July winner Edgar Abalos topped the first round of the season-ending 2023 Fil-Taga Ace of Aces Tournament held last Jan. 13 at the Coral Ocean Resort in Agingan.

The 61-year-old Pacific Islands Club Saipan guest service supervisor shot a net score of 68 after firing a gross of 80 built around a 39 in the front nine and a 41 in the back nine.

Abalos said he’s fortunate that his driver and approach shots were working in Day 1 of the yearly tournament, as he’s putting completely deserted him two Saturdays ago.

“Putting wasn’t working and a lot of my birdie chances didn’t go on. It’s actually my lowest score for a while and the first time I broke into 80. I used to be a single handicapper when I played a lot, but I lack practice now and seldom play golf anymore,” he said in Filipino.

As for the course and weather conditions, Abalos said the weather was fine and as usual the COP is a wide and long course which is advantageous to long strikers like him.

“I want to dedicate the win to my family as always. They always support me in my golf as well as running and biking hobbies,” he said.

Coming into tomorrow’s Round 2, Abalos said his strategy is to hopefully improve his putting and that his unfamiliarity with the LaoLao Golf & Resort course won’t be too much of a hindrance.

“Good luck to Fil-Taga Ace of Aces qualifiers tomorrow,” he said.

A stroke back of Abalos for second place on the opening round of the Fil-Taga Ace of Aces tourney was Bert Suda as the alternate for June shot a net 69 on the strength of his 86 gross (43-43), while currently running third is November winner Tom Palikkun who registered a net 70 (79, 40-39).

A total of 17 Fil-Taga members took part in the Jan. 13 competition and the rest of the players are the following with their net scores in parenthesis: William Retardo (71), October’s Dad Krishnan (71), Henry Bautista (72), May’s Freddie Cataluna (74), December’s Adony Matutino (75), defending champion Ruben Avendano (76), Mike Cruz (79), April’s Emil Pedernal (79), February’s Hak Chon Bae (80), January’s Dan Ganacias (80), August’s Albert Pajarillaga (81), March’s Tony Cabrera (83), September’s Ronnie Santos (84), and Joe Miranda (gross 99).

The second round of the 2023 Fil-Taga Ace of Aces Tourney will be held tomorrow at the west course of LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort. The awards banquet will be held in the evening at Lucky Bill’s Restaurant in Garapan.