SPORTS BRIEFS

RGA kicks off year with best ball

The Refaluwasch Golf Association will herald 2005 with a Two-Man Best Ball Tournament today, Jan. 15, at the Coral Ocean Point Resort golf course.

Showtime is set at 11am with tee-off scheduled an hour later at 12pm. Entry fee is $30 and slots are open for 12 pairs or 24 players.

Club president Jess Wabol said pairings would be determined through a raffle and the handicaps of teams would then be averaged to keep track of the best ball scores.

For more information about the Two-Man Best Ball Tournament, RGA and the rest of its tournaments this year, please contact Wabol at 288-1129, Tony Satur at 322-1562/1563 or Sonny Flores at 234-1748.

MRA annual board meeting today

The Marianas Racing Association will be holding its annual board election today, Jan 15. MRA members who are not current in their registration dues or fees will not be eligible to nominate or vote on election day. If you have any questions about your status, please contact Pauline Burger at 235-8722 or 8723.

BANMI sets deadline for 25-and-under caging

The Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands has set a Jan. 28 deadline for the opening of the 25-and-under Basketball League.

BANMI said if organizers of the 25-and-under competition are not able to come up with the six teams required to start the league before the deadline, then the board would have no choice but to pull the plug.

Registration fee for the 25-and-under league is $900 for teams who wish to have uniforms supplied by the league or $600 for teams who already have their own uniforms.

Players eligible to see action in the league are those whose 26th birthday does not predate the opening of the season.

For more information about the 25-and-under league, please call BANMI president Mike Muna at 664-3582, or league coordinators Abner Venus at 287-5911 and Elias Rangamar at 664-2503.

NMITF Enticer Triathlon this afternoon

The Northern Marianas Islands Triathlon Federation, in cooperation with Duty Free Shoppers, will hold the DFS Galleria Sprint Race at 3pm this afternoon, at Pau Pau beach.

Competitors from the previous two races of the Enticer Series will be increasing their distances to their longest yet, as the lengths are stretched to the 600-meter swim, 15-kilometer bike, and a 4km run of the sprint distance.

In addition to the distance of the abbreviated enticer race, there will be a double-sprint distance to serve as a qualifier for aspiring female members of the South Pacific Mini Games triathlon team, and as a longer event for those who need a tune-up for the Tinian Olympic Distance Triathlon on Saturday, Feb. 19.
Registration for the enticer triathlon will begin at 2:15pm in the Pau Pau Beach parking lot, followed by a 3pm go time. Immediately after the race, the organizers will host a potluck dinner at the pavilion on the beach.

It is mandatory that all riders wear protective helmets, and it is recommended that racers plan on arriving at least an half-hour prior to the start of the race in order to set up their bikes, gear, and have a small warm-up.

The cost to enter is $5 for NMITF members and $10 for non-members. The annual fee to become a member of the NMITF is $25.

Interested racers may pre-register by submitting their intentions to race director Sue Knecht via email at sueknecht1@yahoo.com.

SML teams told to prepare for new season

The Saipan Major League Baseball Association is informing teams interested in joining the upcoming 2005 season to start preparations for the February opening.

Teams are advised to start securing sponsors immediately and not wait for February to arrive.

Teams are allowed to field rosters of not more than 25 players and must be finalized before opening day. Entrance fee is $1,200 and should be made payable under the name of the Saipan Major League.

Interested individuals or teams are asked to contact SML president Rose igitol at 288-5426, vice president Bob Coldeen at 235-KMCV, or league coordinator, Tony Rogolifoi at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium at 664-2508.