Duenas is RGA Turkey Shoot champ

Last Saturday was a great day for a few hungry golfers who longed for a good menu this upcoming Thanksgiving Day.

Despite the soggy and windy weather conditions at Coral Ocean Point Golf Resort, 12 Refaluwasch Golf Association members came out to try their luck and win some cash prizes and Herman’s Bakery gift certificates.

At the same, the club’s November Ace of the Month was at stake. Participants who showed up and endured the wet conditions all walked away with gift certificates for 22-lbs. turkeys courtesy of RGA.

“It is a tradition that every year members look forward to put something on the table and celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving with their loved ones, and at the same time generate proceeds to purchase turkeys for the island’s senior citizens at the Aging Center,” said RGA.

The club also put up cash prizes and in-kind gifts on all par-3 closest to the pin contests.

In spite of the windy conditions on hole No. 3, Oliver Sasaki, a native of Pohnpei who one day hopes to play on the Asian Tour, knocked it close within six feet to earn the cash prize of $50.

Ben Duenas, who recently retired from his job at Tax & Revenue, to try out his luck in golf, finally hit paydirt when he came close to acing hole No. 7 and walked away with a dozen Precept balls and a gift certificate from COP.

Sanitation manager John Tagabuel sliced his way close on hole No. 12 unseating Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho, which earned him a dozen Nike balls and a COP gift certificate.

Tagabuel was also selected RGA November Ace of the Month. “Big” Tony Satur was the last winner in the accuracy department by knocking it close on hole No. 14 and also was a proud winner of $50 cash.

The Top 6-net winners started off with Kamikaze, who carded a net score of 69 and was the winner of Herman’s Bakery’s Thanksgiving gift certificate worth $69.

Commonwealth Ports Authority law enforcement officer and a golf novice, Jordan Kosam, tied Kamikaze with a net score of 69.

But the biggest surprise of the day was Joey “Chuparium” Wabol, who didn’t even spent a penny due to the fact that he outlasted Camacho and Kosam in the tiebreaker and won two dinner rolls and two pumpkin pies, which was enough for him to invite residents of Kagman I to his Thanksgiving Day dinner.

Returning to the winners’ circle was Satur who shot a one-over par 73, and with his slim five-handicap, captured third place worth $150. Coming out of nowhere was John Tagabuel, who came in with a consistent 40 in the front and 40 in the back nine for a gross score of 80. And with his double-digit 12-handicap, Tagabuel finished with the lowest net score of 68 that awarded him the $175 cash prize.

January Ace of the Month winner Duenas was also crowned RGA 2004 Turkey Shoot champ by outlasting Tagabuel and Satur, who were hot on his trails.

Duenas hit a brilliant net score of five-under par 67, which made him $200 richer and the recipient of a gift certificate courtesy of Herman’s Bakery.

RGA would like to extend its thanks to COP, Dolphin Wholesale, Herman’s Bakery, and all the members who made the Turkey Shoot and November Ace possible.