Z brings A game in Mickey D’s golf tourney

Zhimin Jin, third from left, accepts his $500 check for winning the ladies flight of the 2nd Annual McDonald’s Golf Classic last Saturday at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort. Also in photo are, from left, Mabel Glenn, McDonald’s Guam Saipan co-owner Marcia Ayuyu, and Jose Ayuyu Jr. (MARK RABAGO)

Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022 gold medalist Zhimin Jin won the ladies flight after firing the lowest score in the 2nd Annual McDonald’s Golf Classic last Saturday at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort.

The 15-year-old Marianas High School student’s two-over par 74 even bested championship flight winner Sun Ho Kang’s 75, which he shared with two other par-busters.

Jin said her best hole in the fundraiser for the Jose and Ruri Ayuyu Foundation, Inc., Make-A-Wish Foundation, Karidat Social Services, Ronald McDonald House, and the Salvation Army was the par-3 No. 4 hole, which she birdied.

Asked what her strategy was going into the tourney, the teenage golf sensation said it was overcoming mental challenges more than anything else.

“I just tried to focus on my game today because you know how I’m always paired up with the best players on Saipan so I tried not to get nervous and tried to just focus on my game.”

Jin said weather conditions also didn’t give her much leeway as she literally didn’t only had to fend off the tough ladies field, but the unpredictable wind conditions as well.

“To be honest the course wasn’t very good. As you can feel right now the wind was really, really bad. Like the direction was changing every single time. It kind of confused me a little so that was kind of difficult,” she said.

Jin added that she’s happy to be joining golf tournaments again after a brief hiatus following the Mini Games to concentrace on her studies. 

“First of all, I haven’t been joining tournaments recently. I also love golf and I love McDonald’s. I want to thank coach (Joe ‘Kamikaze’ Camacho), my parents, and my family for all their support,” she said.

Jin pocketed $500 for winning first place in the ladies flight, while CNMI national women’s coach Yuko Togawa shot a 79 to finish second and won $300. Me Ae Jeon completed the Top 3 with her 82 and collected $200.

In the C flight, Augustine Palacios’ 85 was good enough for first place. Justin Terlaje was second after firing an 86, while Patrick George took third with his 88.

Federico Flores was numero uno in the seniors flight with his 77 and he was followed by Jeong Hoon Park and Joseph Sasamoto who came away with scores of 78 and 80, respectively.

Like in the ladies flight, Top 3 winners in the C flight and senior flight took home cash prizes of $500, $300, and $200 in the order of how they placed.

McDonald’s Guam and Saipan co-owner Marcia Auyuy thanked the following sponsors for their support of the 2nd Annual McDonald’s Golf Classic: Atkins Kroll, Triple J Motors, Joeten Motors, Stay Well Insurance, Pacific Daily News, MarPac Inc., Bank of Guam, KSPN2, Coca-Cola Beverage Company in CNMI, Bank of Saipan, ASC Trust, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Bank of Hawaii, Matson Navigation, United Airlines, Bridge Capital LLC, Mobil Oil Marianas, Power 99, Micronesia Air Cargo Services, Guahan Waste Control, IT&E, Docomo Pacific, Herman’s Bakery, Chong’s Corp., RNV Construction, Saipan Computer Services, Westco, Sanford Technology Group, Megabyte, Marianas Variety, and Yaong Corp.