Guam’s Sunga bags third TOC title

Guam’s Louie Sunga returned to the Tournament of Champions and regained the title in the Championship Flight of the rain-soaked competition over the weekend at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort.

Sunga won the 2008 and 2009 editions of the TOC, but missed last year’s tournament. He came back this year to win his third title in four years. The Guam golfer shot a 1-under par 71 in the first round on Saturday and then carded a 2-over par 74 in the final round yesterday for a two-day total of 145. Sunga won by only one stroke against Korean golfer Geon Ju Lee, who carded a 1-over par 73 on both days.

“Naturally, it feels great to win three out of four over here. I always look forward to coming here because Laolao Bay is my favorite course. Actually, I thought the conditions were pretty good on Saturday and although it was a little more windy and wet today, I think the course held up to the elements pretty well. I felt good with the two-stroke lead this morning, but I ran into some trouble today (yesterday). Hats off to Geon Ju Lee, he played great out there to. I could feel him behind me, especially in the later part of today’s (yesterday) round, but fortunately I held it together and got it done,” said Sunga at Sunday’s awards banquet.

Although he missed last year’s TOC, Sunga did win Guam’s Governor’s Cup Golf Tournament last November and received free entrance into this year’s TOC as part of the prize package.

Sunga was one of 15 golfers from Guam that flew in to compete along with a pair from Korea and eight others from Japan.

Joining Sunga and Lee in the Top 3 was Daryl Poe, who had a 151. Jong Won Lee and Jason Yi battled it out in a tiebreak for fourth place. Lee and Yi came into the clubhouse tied at 156 and the former triumphed after one sudden death hole. Jong Won Lee also came from four strokes behind at the start of the final round.

In the Ladies Flight, Leina Kim trampled the 22-player field.

Kim had an impressive 7-under par 65 in Day 1 and never looked back. She posted a 74 yesterday, but still finished a dozen stroke ahead of runner-up Noriko Togawa. Although she started slow, Togawa matched Kim stroke for stroke yesterday. Junior golfer Jeong Yun Kim (159), Yuko Togawa (161), and Maea Jeon (163) rounded out the Top 5.

In the Ladies low net, Masayo Miyamoto took the top honors ahead of runner-up Shiori Oneue and third placer Aiga S. Payne.

Do Hyun Kim scratched a pair of 80’s for a 160 and the top place in the 20-player A Flight. Ned Q. Norita (161) finished only a stroke back and two shots ahead of third placer Yongwoon Choz (163). Alexander A. Sablan (166) and Ralph N. Yumul (168) completed the Top 5.

In the B Flight, both front-runners hailed from Tokyo, Japan and put on a grand display to top a hefty field of 48 players.

Junior golfer Yoji Ozeki squeezed past runner-up Hisato Komatsu in a playoff after both golfers finished tied at 158.

Komatsu’s 76 on Saturday led Ozeki by two coming into the payoff round, but the former struggled against Mother Nature yesterday. In the end, Ozeki maintained his cool during the last round and kept it rolling into the playoff.

Changsik Choe (160) finished alone in third place, while Joseph Shirai Muna beat Precillano D. Azarcon in a playoff after both golfers finished Sunday tied at 164.

Lawrence Camacho topped the 56-player C Flight, posting an 81, followed by an 83 yesterday for his 164 total.

Eight stokes back came runner-up John Jr. M. Reyes, while Shi Hong Jin and Sean Lee finished third and fourth, respectively. All three golfers were tied at 172 before the playoff hole, while Martin F. Duenas (174) rounded out the fifth spot.

Barry Wilson topped the 16-player Senior Flight. He led Day 1 with a 75 and managed an 80 yesterday, setting the bar with a 155. Tadashi Umezawa and Vic Borja finished just a stroke behind him and the former received runner-up honors after a playoff. Joseph D. Sablan finished fourth after beating fifth placer Manuel Alvarez in the tiebreak.

Duke Yoo took home the top honors in the 28-player Super Senior Flight with a pair of 81s for his 162 overall tally. Two-strokes back came Dea Young Yoen, while Bill Payne (171) finished third. Manuel Blas and John Sheather finished tied at 172 with the former receiving the nod after a playoff.

All first place winners received $600 and a bottle of Johnny Walker (blue); runner-ups got $500 and a bottle of Jonny Walker (gold); third place finishers pocketed $400 and a bottle of Jonny Walker (green); fourth placers received a digital camera and fifth placers each went home with a $100 gift card from DFS. Ladies low net winners each received bottles of Jonny Walker and all three junior golfer finishers were awarded commemorative trophies.

Next year’s TOC will be held on Aug. 4 and 5 at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort.