RJ Macaranas gets his wish

Before his stint in the 2008 U.S. Kids World Championship later this month, U.S.-based golf wunderkind R.J. Macaranas will also represent the CNMI in the 2008 Callaway Golf Junior World Golf Championship set to start in July 15 at Torrey Pines, San Diego.

This was confirmed recently by Macaranas’ father, Richard, in an email to the Saipan Tribune.

Macaranas earned a second straight trip to the Callaway Golf Junior World Golf Championship after shooting an even-par 36 at the Brookside Golf course.

He also came in among the Top 10 players in the 53rd Len Kennett Junior Championship with a score of five-over par 42 and finished second at the O’Donnell Junior Championship.

Richard said his son is all pumped-up about playing in the Callaway Golf Junior World Golf Championship.

“He’s excited mostly to going back to San Diego at Torrey Pines for the flag ceremony and to meet with other world qualifiers. It feels almost like a graduation party and he is so proud to bringing the NMI flag again this year.”

And speaking of the islands’ colors, Richard said he and his son would like get their hands on another CNMI flag after the one they got last year from Washington Representative Pete A. Tenorio remained at Torey Pines and its availability for the flag ceremony remains a question mark.

“I need help finding another NMI flag. R.J. will be representing the NMI again and will be carrying the flag. Hope we can get some help for maybe another flag for Pinehurst, and NMI flag pins (lapels?) to trade with other junior world qualifiers. Maybe we could have some NMI gifts to trade with other world players as well.”

Richard said they would also need another CNMI flag for the 2008 U.S. Kids World Championship’s parade of nations on July 29 in Pinehurst Village.

The 2008 U.S. Kids World Championship set for July 28 and 29 in North Carolina.

He added that the past few months, R.J. had been getting a lot of encouraging words from family and friends, both back home and in the mainland.

“I think R.J. has so much support from everyone that he thinks it’s his job to do win. I laughed when a Saipan friend of mine told him, ‘you are our only hope.’”

Aside from the two premier golf tournaments—2008 U.S. Kids World Championship and the 2008 Callaway Golf Junior World Golf Championship—Macaranas also has a standing offer to play in the San Diego Junior Masters.

“R.J. wants to play, but since he qualified for the USKWC (U.S. Kids World Championship) we are deciding not to play unless we can get some financial support. We are accepting financial support for it is going to cost us big bucks,” said Richard.

Last year, Macaranas missed the final two rounds of the 2007 Callaway Junior Golf Tournament after scoring a 16-over par 74 in the first round and a 12-over par 70 in the second round. He missed the cut by 15 strokes.

Macaranas’ father and mother, Becky, both hail from Saipan.