Taylor ‘ready’ to defend championship

Defending champion Jeff Taylor is approaching his defense of the 7th Annual HANMI Charity Classic quite casually, waiting two days before the tournament to tune-up his game.

“I have really not played since our trip to Thailand two months ago. I will go to the driving range tonight and hit some balls to prepare for the event,” said the affable DFS Saipan executive.

Turning more serious, Taylor said last Tuesday’s Tournament of Fools Golf Tournament was his first round of golf since returning from his Southeast Asia vacation.

“I did play well in that tournament but my short game and wedge game were rusty.”

Asked who he thinks will be his main rivals for tomorrow’s event, Taylor said Mr. Unorthodox Jess Wabol, Chief Public Defender Adam Hardwicke, and Korean pro Bae Yong Man will be the top contenders.

Last year, Taylor bested eight of the CNMI’s top golfers to win the Championship Flight.

The 3-handicapper Taylor shot a 36 in the front nine and 38 in the back to end up with a 74 and a one-shot victory over closest pursuers Wabol and Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho, who since then has moved to the U.S. mainland. Wabol and Camacho ended up tied with a 75 after both of them shot a 38 and a 37.

The seventh installment of the HANMI Charity will be held tomorrow at the Marianas Country Club. It will have a show time of 6:30am and a shotgun start of 7:30am.

As in years past, cash prizes await the Top 3 winners in five flights—Championship, A, B, C, Seniors, and Ladies.

First place goes home with $500, second $300, and third $200. All flights save for the Ladies will be based on gross scores. The Ladies Flight will adopt double Peoria format. All Top 3 placers in the five flights will also be awarded with handsome trophies as well as one-month free golf courtesy of Marianas Country Club.

Those who weren’t fortunate to win in the five flights will be entered into a double Peoria event for a chance to win a free trip.

Aside from the Top 3 winners in the five flights, the 7th Annual HANMI Charity Classic will also have four hole-in-one prizes in holes No. 6, 8, 12, and 16.

Organizers have also set up an optional nearest to the pin on all par three holes and longest drive in hole No. 14. Only $25 is needed to sign up.

The 7th Annual HANMI Charity Classic is sponsored by Aqua Resort Club, Carlsmith Law Office, Century Hotel, Century Tours, Chung Nam (c/o Mr. Jae), Coral Ocean Point Resort, DFS, D&Q, Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, Flame Tree TV, Hafadai Beach Hotel, HANMI, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Joeten Motors, JSTA, Kautz Glass, Marianas Resort and Spa, Northwest Airlines, Pacific Eagle Enterprises, Pacific Islands Club, Procter & Gamble, PTI, Sablan Topline, Saipan Country Club, SaipanCell Communications, Saipan Grand Hotel, Saipan Sanki, Saipan World Resort, Takagi & Associates, Tan Holdings Corp., Titan Imports, and 360 Restaurant.