Sablan is top turkey at COP

Joe Sablan battled fierce winds to emerge from a field of 27 strikers and slicers to take the November honors at the Saipan Golfers Association Ace of the Month after his clubs and handicap propelled him to the top of the standings on Sunday, Nov. 13, at the Coral Ocean Point Golf Resort.

Sablan took home an undisclosed amount of cash and a turkey for his efforts on the course as he shot a 43 on the front nine and a 45 on the back to finish with a gross score of 88 before taking advantage of a 23 handicap for a net score of 65.

SGA secretary Larry Guerrero was hot on his tail with a net score of 70 on the day after his handicap adjusted his 47 on the front and 45 on the back 22 strokes. Guerrero also took home a secret stash of cash and a turkey, and while the duo dueled on the links, Tony Benavente Sr., Edward C. Sablan, and Luis Cepeda tied for third with identical net scores of 72.

In the end, Benavente took the tiebreaker with the best score on the 8th hole, followed by Sablan and Cepeda in fourth and fifth, respectively. While Sablan and Cepeda bagged birds for the day, Benavente brought home some cash as well.

Aside from their net scores, the duffers were also able to compete in the longest drive competition on two of the holes as well as four attempts to win $10 and a turkey for landing their drive closest to the pin.

Rick Kautz went home with $20 and a bird for the longest drive on the sixth fairway, while Benavente did the same on the 11th. While he didn’t take home the prize drive, Cepeda said that he will be ready next time, and guaranteed victory on the links next month for the December Ace of the Month.

“I had hopes at Hole No. 6 Longest Drive match. I placed my ball dead center, but unfortunately it was not close enough to reach Rick Kautz. I will win the December Ace, no doubt about it!”

Benavente wasn’t the only hitter to take home a pair of turkeys as Joe Sablan landed his dimpled orb closest to the pin on the third hole. Dave Cepeda (7th), John Cepeda (12th), and John “Nunni” Cruz (14th) each took home a turkey for their power of proximity,

After cruising to victory last month to take the October Ace, local duffer Joe Guerrero took a 180-degree turn to notch the worst score of the day with a foul 112 gross score that he would be happy to forget.

Golfers can now look ahead to the December Ace qualifier which is tentatively set for Sunday, Nov. 27, at Laolao Bay Golf Resort and the two-round Ace of Aces Tournament that gets started a week later on Saturday, Dec. 3. More details are yet to come, and for more information about the SGA, or their upcoming events, contact Guerrero by calling 287-1052, or president Ben Aldan by calling 234-3176.