‘Lucky’ Palikkun tops Ace of Aces tourney

Tom Palikkun made his home island of Kosrae proud by winning the season-ending 2023 Fil-Taga Golfers Association Ace of Aces Tournament held last Jan. 13 and 27.

The 62-year-old retired longtime golf course staff followed up his net score of 71 on Day 1 of the tourney at the Coral Ocean Resort with an even better net 70 on Day 2 at the LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort west course.

Palikkun, the November winner, wound up with a two-day net total of 141 for a net average of 70.5 to edge June alternate Burt Suda, who was three strokes behind with his 144 net total, good for an average of 72. May winner Freddie Cataluna completed the Top 3 with his 148 net that included a superb net 68 on Day 2.

Palikkun downplayed his win and attributed his championship in the 2023 Fil-Taga Ace of Aces to plain old luck.

“Actually, today was all luck. It was all luck considering that in the first nine the wind and the rain was a big factor. The wind was strong so I was struggling on the first nine…I was just trying to stay on the fairway as much as I could. On the back nine, the weather was fantastic so I was able to play a little better,” he said after the awards ceremony at Lucky Bill’s Restaurant in Garapan on the evening after the second round.

He said his victory on Day 2 also came despite him not really being a good player on the west course.

“I struggle a bit [on the west course]. I’d say today it was just pure luck,” he said.

Palikkun then went on to dedicate his win to all Fil-Taga members.

“I feel so privileged to be part of this organization. I’ve known the members and their families for a long time. I just went there to have fun and whatever happens I was going to accept the outcome. You have to remember, there’s a lot of them in this group that play a lot better than me—Freddie, William [Retardo], Dan [Ganacias]. Today was just one of these days that I got lucky.”

A total of 10 Fil-Taga members took part in the two-day 2023 Fil-Taga Ace of Aces Tournament and the rest are the following with their net score average in parenthesis: July winner Edgar Abalos (74.5); December winner Adony Matutino (76.5); October winner Das Krishnan (77); January winner Dan Ganacias (78.5); August winner Albert Pajarillaga (78.5); September winner Ronnie Santos (82.5), and March winner Tony Cabrera (83). February winner Hak Chon Bae and April winner Emil Padernal only played on the first round.

During the awards ceremony, Fil-Taga president Cabrera congratulated all the winners of the season-ending tournament. He also shared how his close relationship to his Filipino stepfather was a big influence in him joining the club.

The awards ceremony also saw all monthly winners awarded their monthly trophy.

In the concurrent January Ace of the Month Tournament, Palikkun also took the plum with his aforementioned net 70. Second place went to Cataluna with his net 74 and Suda was third with his net 75.