Babauta salutes ToC sponsors

Gov. Juan N. Babauta thanked the sponsors of this year’s 9th Annual Tournament of Champions and told them that their generosity and civic mindedness would come a long way in making the CNMI a world-class tourist destination.

Speaking on the occasion of the Governor’s Sponsors Luncheon held last Friday at the Aqua Resort Club, the Commonwealth’s chief executive acknowledged that the ToC has through the years become the premiere fundraiser in the CNMI.

That fact really is a big deal once you take into account that since 1996 the ToC has seen its income increase by some 200 percent.

Babauta said money raised by the golf tournament has been beneficial to the Commonwealth’s economy, especially in the field of tourism. Babauta said the funds generated by the ToC almost always find its way in island beautification efforts the most of recent of which is the Garapan Revitalization Project.

The governor said that because of this the people of the CNMI would always be indebted to the companies that help make the ToC the success it has been all these years.

Babauta, in particular, extended his congratulations to the event’s main sponsors namely Continental Airlines, Aon Insurance, DFS Saipan, DFS Guam, Joeten Motors, Johnnie Walker, LaoLao Bay Golf Resort, Louis Vuitton Micronesia, the Marianas Visitors Authority, Pacific Trading Co., Tan Holdings, Triple J Motors, and Verizon Micronesia.

He also saluted the ToC’s driving forces—chairman Rodney Klinge, DFS Saipan’s Marian Aldan-Pierce, and MVA managing director Vicky Benavente as well as the whole staff of the organizing committee. Babauta also thanked the tournament’s special sponsors, who he did not even attempt to name because of their sheer number.

Aldan-Pierce, for her part, can’t help but admire the growth of the ToC from a mere sporting event in the year’s golf calendar into what the governor now terms as the premiere fundraising event on island.

She said that this year promises to be even better with sponsorships topping at 96 companies and with over $6 million in cash and in-kind prizes to be given away in the tournament, including not a few multiple-million-dollar holes that can make even the steadiest of golfers nervous.

Speaking in behalf of MVA director David Sablan, Benavente extended the board’s sincere appreciation to all the sponsors. She, however, vowed that all these beautification projects are only the beginning and more work should be done in Tinian and Rota.

Klinge, on the other hand, spent his time in the podium by quoting from professional golfer Ernie Els on the value of voluntarism. “It’s not what you take, but what you give back that is important,” he said.

The 9th Annual Tournament of Champions will be held at the Lao Lao Bay golf resort on July 31 and Aug. 1.

Organizers are offering discounted entry fees. The final day to qualify for the $175 discounted fee is Friday, July 23. After that, the cost goes up to $200.

Those interested can pick up registration forms at Las Vegas Discount Golf, Dan Dan Driving Range, the DFS Galleria, any of the Shell gas stations, or at any of the local golf courses. Completed forms should be dropped off on the second floor of the DFS Galleria at the security/administration office.

For more information about the 2004 Tournament of Champions, please visit the tournament website at www.tocsaipan.org.