Flor Jones wins CWGA’s December tourney

CNMI Women’s Golf Association members take a selfie at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort during their December Ace of the Month Tournament last Saturday, Dec 18. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Flor Jones was as surprised as any to emerge as the champion of the CNMI Women’s Golf Association’s December Ace of the Month Tournament last Saturday, Dec 18, at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort.

The 45-year-old co-owner of Top Shelf Wine & Spirits shot a net score of 69 to bag the year’s last tournament. She actually fired a gross score of 91, but her total was whittled down to 69 due to her 22 handicap.

“I’m not really happy with the score because my goal was to break 80. I’m a perfectionist. I played it safe because of the fast greens and didn’t really hit that hard,” he said, adding that it took a while for her to adjust to the greens because she just returned from the U.S. mainland where she played in pretty much slow greens.

The Manila-born but Mindanao, Philippines-raised Jones said her strategy heading into the December tournament was just sticking close to the best player in her group, which just happened to be her namesake, Sherlyn Jones.

Flor Jones, co-owner of Top Shelf Wine & Spirits, topped the CNMI Women’s Golf Association’s December Ace of the Month Tournament last Saturday, Dec 18, at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

“The plan was just to stay behind her because she’s a very good golfer. I don’t want to make a mistake when you play with that group. My goal was to match the good golfer in our group.”

Flor Jones went on to have a split of 46 in the front nine and a 45 in the back nine. Her highlights include a par in hole No. 7. The lowlights, she said, was she 3-putted a couple of holes.

“I was shooting for an 85 but I 3-putted three times. The 91 is actually not my best score,” she said.

Jones, who started playing the sport in 2006 but only took it seriously five years ago, dedicated her win in the CWGA December tournament to no other than herself.

“Because I’ve been working hard and all I want is to be a better golfer. My handicap is 22 but usually it’s 16,” she said.

Coming in second to Flor Jones in CWGA’s December tournament was no other than Sherlyn Jones. The veteran lady golfer came away with a net of 73 built around a gross of 84. The 9-handicapper had a 43 in the first nine holes and a 42 in the last nine. Completing the Top 3 was Yuko Togawa who shot a net of 78. The CWGA president had a splendid gross of 78 (41-37).

A total of nine golfers took part in the CWGA December tournament. The rest were Sunny Hyun Son (net 79), Lou Kim (net 79), Yi Su Jeong (net 82), Terry Guerrero (net 82), Lorraine Babauta (net 84), and Sae Hee Kim (net 86).

The club continues to look for new members as the new season continues. For those interested in becoming a member of CWGA or for more information, contact CWGA president Yuko Togawa at 287-9856, vice president Lorraine Babauta at 287-0621, or treasurer Lou Kim at 783-7317.