Sen. Reyes, Kim top RP Independence Day tourney

Sen. Pete Reyes and youngster Leina Kim emerged as champions of the 107th Philippine Independence Day Golf Tournament held last Sunday at LaoLao Bay Golf Resort.

Reyes defeated 28 other players to rule the members division, while Kim bested 18 golfers in the guest division of the event hosted by the Fil-Taga Golfers Association.

Taming the fast greens and avoiding the sand traps of LaoLao’s west course, the 57-year-old Reyes carded a net score of 66 after finishing with a gross of seven-over 79.

Three shots behind the Saipan lawmaker was Mike Cruz, who saved his funnyman antics for the evening’s banquet, and wound up with a net score of 69 after recording a gross of 14-over 86.

Larry Guerrero came in four shots shy of Reyes’ total and just a shot back of Cruz when he submitted a 70. He had a gross score of 24-over par 96.

Guerrero actually finished tied with Father Manny Corcuera, but held on to third place after triumphing on a scorecard tiebreak.

During an interview at the awards banquet at Aqua Resort Club, Reyes said luck played a big role in his victory, but admitted that making the Commonwealth’s laws is a piece of cake compared to winning titles on the golf course.

“I’m just lucky I guess. Sometimes we get lucky and do well in a major tournament. Legislating is easier. Golf is difficult, but the reward is there when you win. It’s a nice feeling and very rewarding. Golf is a sport when you win once you want to keep on winning again,” he said.

“I play on weekends. I try to make sure to allow myself to go out and play golf. I’ve started playing the sport since I was a kid. Started caddying for my father and started learning then,” he added.

Rounding the top 10 in the members division, with their net scores in parenthesis, were Lito Mendoza (71), Joe Miranda (72), Nestor Siruelo (72), Manny Po (72), Henry Bautista (73), and last year’s champion Glenna Palacios (7)

Kim, for her part, smoked the competition in the guests division after she shot a net score of 61.

The 13-year-old wunderkind had no problems on tee shots and was even better on her putting and came away with a wonderful gross score of three-over 75, second best of the day.

“I’m happy and excited for winning. I just tried to play my game,” she said.

Tony Benavente, for his part, momentarily traded in his baseball cleats for golf ones and finished a far second with a net score of 66. He tied Kim with a gross of 75.

Long-haired Manny Alvarez cornered the third spot after recording a net score of 70. He had a gross score of 80

Before winning the guest division of the Philippine Independence Day tourney, Kim also won a championship from the Northern Mariana Islands Junior Golfers Association Tournament.

Kim said she had been playing the sport for the past three years. She also said she didn’t feel intimidated going up against a tough field that included 2005 Johnny Walker Classic Pro-Am veteran Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho and last year’s champion Ben Jones.

The daughter of Young and Shirley Kim, Kim studies at Saipan Community School and her ambition is to someday compete in the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour.

Making up the top 10 of the guest division were Jung Eun Teack (71), Camacho (73), Joe M. Deleon Guerrero (76), Jones (77), and George Fleming (77).

Fil-Taga president Ted Malaran congratulated the winners of the tournament and extended his thanks to all of the participants, sponsors, and everyone involved in the event.

“We thank you for participating in the tournament and we are looking forward to another tournament in a couple of months. We would be holding a Ryder Cup tournament this coming September against SGA [Saipan Golfers Association] and then by December we will have our Ace of Aces championship,” he said.