Larry owes championship to mentors

Deleon-Guerrero

Larry Deleon Guerrero paid tribute to his golf mentors after winning the Saipan Golfers Association 2022 Ace of Aces Tournament championship last month.

The 67-year-old former lawmaker topped the two-round year-end tournament with a net 135. He shot his average of net 72 in the first round last Jan. 28 at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort east course before firing a net 63 in the second round on Jan. 29 on the west course.

Deleon Guerrero picked up the sport about 10 years ago and thanked the pillars of golf on the island for all their support and encouragement. 

“AG (Attorney General Edward) Manibusan, Ray Salas, Nick Sablan, Ray San Nicolas, Joe I. Sablan, and my brother Tony, they’re really the ones who enticed me to join the SGA. I give those guys a lot of credit for teaching me and encouraging me to get into the sport,” he said.

On winning the Ace of Aces, Deleon Guerrero attributed this to his concentration and course management.

“I think I stayed focused. Of course I managed my swing and everything basically and when I make a mistake I correct it.  The weather was beautiful and the greens were excellent.” 

The 20-handicapper from Papago added that he was lucky he got hot on Day 2 of the Ace of Aces.

“On the first day with a 92 gross which was pretty much my average score and you’re not going to win with that 92 alone. But I thought I need to improve that and use different techniques like my swing and stay focused and don’t let anything interfere… You have to set your mind when you want to score a hole well. It’s all about course management. I also really enjoy watching the PGA Tour. Bottom line I think I learned a lot from watching the Tour.”

Deleon Guerrero dedicated the 2022 SGA championship to the usual suspects. 

“Of course I want to dedicate this to my wife and family and of course my comrades at SGA and officers. I want to give them great gratitude for successfully organizing this 2022 Ace of Aces.”

Nick Sablan came in second to Deleon Guerrero in the Ace of Aces with a net 143 (75-68). He actually tied with Joe I. Sablan but won via scorecard tiebreaker. The latter carded scores of 79-64 in the two rounds. Third place went to Ed Sablan with his net 150 (71-79).

In the closest to the pin on Day 1, Nick Sablan took the cake in hole No. 13, while the longest drive went to Rick Kautz in holes No. 2 and 18.

In the January Ace of the Month Tournament held on Round 2 last Jan. 29, Roxy Salas won with a net 63 (86 gross, 44-42), who edged Deleon Guerrero on a proverbial scorecard tiebreaker with Joe I. Sablan completing the Top 3 with his net 64.

Closest to the pin winners were Das Krishnan (hole No. 4), Kautz (hole No. 6), Deleon Guerrero (hole No. 11), and Joe I. Sablan (hole No. 15).
The latter also topped the longest drive on hole No. 3 with Krishnan bringing the lumber in hole No. 18. last month.