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Greg Sablan nabs SGA January Ace
Greg Sablan Jr., center, poses with fellow SGA members John “Nanni” Cruz, left, and Attorney General Edward Manibusan during the awards presentation for the SGA Ace of Aces at Capital Hill last Sunday.
(Jon Perez)
Gregorio Sablan Jr. opened up 2016 on a winning note after topping the Saipan Golfers Association’s January Ace of the Month held last Sunday on the west course of the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort.
Sablan finished with a gross score of 91 after rounds of 51 and 40, and his 18 handicap gave him a 73 net for a one-shot win over Jess Castro (74).
Sablan had a horrible start as he triple-bogeyed the par-4 Nos. 4, 6 and 9 to finish with a 51 on the front nine. He rebounded with a 40 on the back, highlighted by three straight even-pars for that 91.
Attorney General Edward Manibusan finished with the third best net score of 76, while Commonwealth Cancer Association program manager Juan L. Babauta, Jung Eun Teack and Nick Sablan ended up tied for fourth to sixth places with 77s, and John “Nanni” Cruz placed seventh with a 78.
Sunday’s January Ace of the Month was also SGA’s final day of their yearend tournament for 2015 with Sablan clinching the crown to repeat as champion.
Sablan, who qualified in the Ace of Aces for winning the October monthly crown, now joins other two-time champions Jung (2001, 2013) and Jose S. Demapan (2005, 2008) but is the first back-to-back title holder.
Meanwhile, Manibusan and Babauta claimed the closest to the pin special award at Nos. 3 and 7, while Steve Balakrishna and James Nelson duplicated the feat at Nos. 13 and 17.
Manibusan was also the longest drive winner at No. 2, while Jess Castro claimed the same award at No. 12.
