Krishnan: Rotary golf classic almost cancelled

Rotary Goodwill Golf Classic Tournament optional play winners pose for a photo with Rotary Club of Saipan officials led by president Ivan Ilmov, fourth from right. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Now it can be told.

There wasn’t supposed to be a Rotary Goodwill Golf Classic Tournament last Saturday at the Coral Ocean Resort due to the recent rise in positive COVID-19 cases in the community.

“I almost cancelled the event due to the spike of COVID-19 in the community and also Coral Ocean Resort had their travel bubble in place that started on Oct. 28,” said tournament coordinator and 2020 Rotarian of the Year Das Krishnan.

He said because Coral Ocean Resort was hosting tourists from the CNMI’s travel bubble with Korea he had to move the Rotary Goodwill Golf Classic Tournament banquet to Saipan World Resort in the 11th hour.

But all’s well that ends well as the Crowne Plaza Resort F&B director said a total of 122 players participated for this event and more importantly the tournament raised $7,000, which will be used to fund the Rotary Club of Saipan’s many community projects.

Krishnan added that holding a golf tournament during a pandemic was not a fun job. “It is hard because people are still scared to participate in a crowd and sharing a cart with another person.”

In behalf of the local Rotary Club, he also congratulated all the winners of the tournament as well as thanked all the sponsors, among them are Tan Siu Foundation, Triple J Motors, Joeten Motors, Equitable Insurance, USA Fanter Corp., Atkins Kroll, Marianas Visitors Authority, Marianas Variety, RNV Construction, Power 99, KKMP radio station, MARPAC, Pacific Trading Co., Marianas Coffee, and Coldwell Energy.

Other than the medal play winners—Harry Nakamura (championship flight), Joseph Muña (A flight), Darion Jones (B flight), Bartley Jackson (C flight), Nick Sablan (senior flight), and Zhi Min Jin (women’s flight)—the tournament also awarded cash prizes to optional play winners during its awards banquet.

The closest to the pin winners were Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho after his ball stopped 63 inches from the lip of hole No. 3. Zhi Yun Li won in hole No. 7 after his approach shot came within 103 inches. Joseph Muna was without peer in hole No. 12 with his ball landing 39 inches from the flag. Nick Sablan took the win after the senior flight winner’s ball came within 56 inches of hole No. 14.

In the most accurate drive, Joey “Kazu” Dela Cruz out-clubbed everyone in hole No. 6, while Tars Olopai brought the lumber in hole No. 17.