Tars Olopai rules March tourney

Tars Olopai was the king of the mountain in the Refaluwasch Golf Association Ace of the Month Tournament last March.

The veteran golfer scored a two-round total of net 138 after twin 69s in the first and second rounds, both at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort.

In the first round on the west course last March 9, Olopai shot a 41 in the first nine holes and a 38 in the back nine with birdies in holes No. 14 and 17 for a gross score of 79 for the 10-handicapper.

Then in the second round last March 16 on the east course, he also shot 41-38 in the first nine and the last nine holes with 1-unders in holes No. 14 and 16.

“The course was well maintained and the weather was dry and windy. I was consistently hitting my driver and short game in a playable manner. It was my putting that helped my game those two days,” said Olopai when asked about his March triumph.

Olopai said he picked up golf at a young age and used to play with tangan-tangan as clubs like his old dear departed friend Mr. Unorthodox, Jess Wabol.

“I recall, maybe I was about 12 years old when I started playing this game. It kind of left me no choice due to the fact that our backyard was the first golf course on island, the Whispering Palms golf course in Chalan Kiya (Now Saipan Vegas golf course). That’s how I learned the game.”

Carl Hocog and Fr. James Balajadia finished second and third to Olopai with net scores of 139 (68-71) and 141 (69-72), respectively.

In the closest to the pin on Round 1, Manny Mangarero was without peer on hole No. 3. Ditto for Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho on hole No. 7, while father-and-son Ben Jones Sr. and Darion Jones lorded it over on holes No. 13 and 17, respectively.

On Round 2, Louie Tilipao prevented a shutout by former junior golfer Balajadia as he reigned supreme on hole No. 4, while Balajadia took the plums on holes No. 7, 11, and 15.

Tars Olopai