Freddie Cataluna captures SGA June ace

Freddie Cataluna won the Saipan Golfers Association June tournament after leaderboard topnotcher Nick Sablan wasn’t eligible to claim the victory last June 23 at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort west course.

Sablan, a former national golfer, set the net score to beat with his 71 (37-40, gross of 77), but the 6-handicapper already won last March that disqualified him from further SGA monthly glory.

Cataluna, meanwhile, had to fend off Rick Kautz via scorecard tiebreak to take the June plum with a net 74. The 56-year-old businessman and 3-handicapper managed to tie Sablan’s round best gross score of 77 after going 39 in the front and 38 in the back nine.

Kautz, for his part, arrived on his net 74 after shooting a 41-44 for a gross score of 85 for the 11-handicapper.

“Weather was OK that day. I think I had three or four birdies but also one or two bad holes. It’s my short game that I had problem lately, especially putting,” said Cataluna about his June tourney performance.

The Iloilo, Philippines native then dedicated his win to his wife Lea and their four children. “For being very supportive to my golf hobby.

He said he recently joined the SGA because he wants to learn more about the sport from club mainstays Sablan and Edward Manibusan, adding he also has a lot of friends at SGA. Cataluna said he’s also looking forward to representing the club in Philippine Airlines’ PAL Interclub golf tournament set for February next year in the Philippines.

Wit the June victory, Cataluna now joins the 2024 SGA Ace of the Month winners—Larry Deleon Guerrero (January), Alex Tudela (February), Sablan (March), Das Krishnan (April), and Joe Sablan (May).

In the closest to the pin competition, Kautz took the victory on hole No. 4, while Cataluna swept holes No. 7, 11, and 16. In the longest drive, Ton Tomokane and Jung Eun Teack brought the lumber in holes No. 3 and 10.