Demapan is 2005 SGA Ace of Aces

Twelve moths of driving, pitching, and putting have finally boiled down to two rounds on the links for some of the CNMI’s top duffers, but Joe Demapan emerged from a field of 23 strikers and slicers to win the Saipan Golf Association Ace of Aces tournament at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort.

A shroud of mystery was finally lifted as the outcome of the last weekend’s competition had been kept under wraps until Tuesday night’s SGA Christmas Party at the Pacific Gardenia, but officials announced that Demapan was without equal in the yearend event.

Demapan shot gross scores of 76 and 78 on Laolao’s east and west courses, respectively, but his handicap brought his combined low net score to 136 to win the title.

For his efforts on the links, Demapan walked away smiling with an undisclosed amount of cash and prizes in addition to his commemorative trophy and free annual membership to the SGA in 2006.

In the open category, Jess Castro took the nod with a 139 low net thanks to his 10-handicap. After finishing the beautiful and challenging east course with a 78 gross score, Castro scored an 81 on the west course before his handicap took him to the promised land.

The only female member of the SGA bagged second place with an identical net score as Frances Sablan used every bit of her 31 handicap after scoring a 100 gross on the east course and 101 on the west.

John Cepeda took third place in the category with a 143 low net after finishing the east course with an 88 and the west with an 83 gross. After shaving off 14 strokes from each, Cepeda earned a top 3 finish.

While Castro was the only one of the three to earn a trophy in the open category, the trio each took home an undisclosed amount of cash and prizes. They weren’t the only ones who walked away with parting gifts, as James Balajadia, Ben Aldan, SGA treasurer Joe Sablan, SGA vice president Ray Salas, SGA tournament director Rex Palacios, Tony Guerrero, and Tony Benavente Sr. took home prizes for rounding out the Top 10.

According to SGA secretary Larry Guerrero, the event went off without a hitch and he was thankful for the turnout and another successful year for the association.

“It was terrific. It was a long year and everyone put in 110-percent to make the season successful. Congratulations to all of the winners, and we promise to make next year even more enjoyable and more prosperous for everyone,” he said.

The secretary didn’t stop there as he as Guerrero said that Demapan should enjoy his laurels because the veteran duffer will be gunning for him in the New Year.

“I’m gonna win it in January! I guarantee it,” said Guerrero

While the dates and location for the start of the 2006 SGA are yet to be announced, more information about joining ranks of the SGA is available by contacting Larry Guerrero at 256-1052 or 287-1052, Ben Aldan at 234-3176, or Joe Sablan at 664-3907.