Tourney to also benefit NMI junior golfers

Fil-Taga Golfers Association president Ted Malaran said this Sunday’s 107th Philippine Independence Day Golf Tournament would serve two purposes—help the club celebrate the country’s Declaration of Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, as well as contribute to the development of the Commonwealth’s junior golfers.

“Our forefathers struggled to attain sovereignty from their former colonial masters to secure a better future for their children and we honor their sacrifices as well as celebrate Philippine Independence Day by holding this tournament every year,” said Malaran.

The president of Fil-Taga, however, said that the club is also bent in giving something back to its adopted homeland, the CNMI, by contributing a portion of tournament proceeds to the Commonwealth’s youth, through the Northern Marianas Junior Golf League.

“Although most of our membership hail from the Philippines, we have come to love the CNMI and would like to further the development of its junior golfers by donating some money to the NMJGL,” he said.

“Actually, our main goal is to help send one junior golfer from CNMI to the World Junior Golf Tour and one day play in the PGA. It make us really proud as one of the contributors to that achievement, even in a small way,” added Malaran.

The 107th Philippine Independence Day Golf Tournament would tee off beginning 12pm this Sunday, June 19, at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort west course.

Show time for the event is 10:30am and entry fee is $100, which will entitle participants to free green fees and a dinner banquet at the Aqua Resort Club Rey Lounge.

Deadline for submission of entries and entry fee is today, June 16. Golfers who have not submitted completed entry forms and entry fee could still join but will have a penalty of $10.

Fil-Taga also said that it would be using the Callaway System in determining the handicap of participating players who still don’t have a verifiable handicap.

Entry forms can be picked up and submitted at Express Tour & Travel Agency located at the 1st floor of Paradise Hotel along Middle Road in front of the Commonwealth Health Center in Garapan.

Entry forms can also be picked up at LaoLao Bay Golf Resort, Marianas Country Club, and All-Star Sporting Goods located at the Hafadai Shopping Center in Garapan.

Like previous years, the tournament will have two categories—a member and guest division. Champions for each category will receive $300 cash and a handsome trophy, runner-up $200 and also a trophy, while third-place winners take home $200 and a trophy.

Aside from the cash prizes for the top winners, Fil-Taga is also giving lucky golfers the opportunity to earn more in four hole-in-one prizes.

A Hogan Iron set and $10,000 in cash await the hole-in-one winner on the 3rd hole. A Dell personal computer and another $10,000 in cash will be awarded to anyone who makes a hole-in-one on the 17th hole. A hole-in-one on the 7th hole will net a Hogan Iron set and a Bose radio. Fil-Taga, meanwhile, will give away another Dell personal computer and another Bose radio for a hole-in-one on the 13th hole.

As an added bonus, unlike other tournaments, Fil-Taga said it would not split prizes if one or more golfers actually hit a hole-in-one in any of the four holes.

Last year, newcomer Glenna Palacios fired a net score of 13-under 59 to win the members division, while Ben Jones carded a five-under 67 to rule the guest division.

Established in 1993, Fil-Taga hosts monthly tournaments, which operate under a computer-controlled handicap system that creates parity among players in the A and B Flights. Regular tournaments are scheduled once a month, normally every third Sunday. Green fees are in the $35 to $40 price range for most tournaments.