Henry Bautista rules last two Fil-Taga tournaments

Henry Bautista posted the lowest scores in the February and March tournaments of the Fil-Taga Golfers Association.

The 62-year-old Department of Public World highway engineer first topped the February Ace of the Month Tournament at the Kingfisher Golf Links in Talafofo last Feb. 17 with a net score of 65 built around a gross score of 84 for the 19-handicapper. He beat Ruben Avendano and Albert Pajarillaga who finished with net score of 72 and 78.

In the March tourney at the Coral Ocean Resort last March 16, the Iloilo, Philippines native came away with a net score of 71, but yielded the monthly championship to Ed Varias with his net 72, as per club rules players who already won during the year are ineligible for another monthly win. Third place went to Avendano with his net 74.

Bautista said despite varying experiences in the February and March aces, he was lucky to have come out on top.

“February was in Kingfisher, it’s windy that time but I got the best score that day. March was in COP and it was fair weather but challenging when putting on the green. I always say that ‘my departure is good but not at the arrival,’” he said.

He then dedicated his twin lowest scores in the past two iterations of the Fil-Taga tourney to his family “because they always say good luck everytime I said I was going golfing.”

Bautista started playing golf in 2005 but had to stop from 2007 until 2014. He got back to playing again in 2016 and hasn’t stopped since. He tries to play every Fil-Taga monthly tournament with the occasional round or two with co-workers at DPW.

In the par-3 competition, the winners for February were Romy Cayetano, Pajarillaga, and Bautista himself. The winners for the same game in March were Cayetano again, William Retardo, and Freddie Cataluna.

Fil-Taga will hold its April Ace of the Month Tournament on April 20 at the LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort.

The club will also co-host the 3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament with the Saipan Pacific Lions Club on June 8 at the LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort. The beneficiary for the event is Karidat Social Services.

First, second, third, fourth, and fifth place in the double peoria tournament wins $500, $400, $300, $200, and $100, respectively. Second to the last score will also win $100. Hole-in-one prizes are brand new cars on holes No. 13 and 17 and $10,000 cash each on holes No. 3 and 7. There is also optional play for $30.