NMC Foundation lauds Devlin for his help

NMC Foundation thanked eight-time PGA Tour champion Bruce Devlin for taking time off from his busy schedule to headline its rain-shortened 2nd Annual NMC Foundation Open last weekend at the Kingfisher Golf Links.

Despite being under the weather, Foundation president Jerry Tan attended the awards banquet at the Hyatt Regency Saipan Sunday and praised Devlin for his invaluable help in raising the profile of the event. He also saluted the organizing committee for its hard work the past six months.

Devlin thanked the people of Saipan for their warm hospitality and gave the thumbs up to the organizing committee for its excellent work in making his trip and the tournament possible.

“I knew what Saipan was before but really didn’t know how to get there until now. The NMC Foundation Open was great for the players but was even greater for the kids, who stand to benefit from the money raised in this tournament.”

Devlin added that he would more than welcome an invitation for next year’s third staging of the two-day event.

“I sure would like to come back here next year and help double the money raised by the Foundation this year.”

Devlin showed great humor all throughout the weekend. During the awards banquet the 66-year-old golf legend joined emcee Reina Camacho and egging the winners to donate their winnings back to the college.

He met his match when it was the turn of Championship Flight winner Jeff Taylor to come to the stage and receive his $500 cash prize.

Taylor good-naturedly answered Devlin’s request by saying that one of his kids is enrolling at NMC next year, so the money will definitely come back to the college.

Devlin’s retort was that the golf tip he gave Taylor a day before the Open started was worth $500, which drew a roar and claps of acknowledgement from the crowd.

Like Tan, NMC acting president Tony Guerrero also thanked Devlin for coming to Saipan.

“Mr. Devlin you are truly a gentleman for coming over here in this small island in the middle of the Pacific and help our small college.”

He also expressed his heartfelt appreciation to all the sponsors of the golf tournament and said their contributions are going to a worthy cause.

Organizing committee member Lynn Knight said the Open attracted more than 50 sponsors and raised a grand total of $100,00 for the islands’ lone tertiary institution.

She said money raised in the tournament would go a long way in improving the level of education in the college. Knight said better education would ultimately help in the Commonwealth’s economic recovery.

Another board member, Dave Atalig, also added that despite the bad weather the turnout for the tournament was still great. He said the players had a great time and relished the opportunity of playing the tournament under the watchful eye of Devlin.

Atalig said players who were not able to play Sunday because of severe weather conditions were given a certificate that allows them to use the round of golf anytime during the next 30 days.