Tilipao is RGA January Ace

Louie Tilipao humbled all comers to win the Refaluwasch Golf Association January Ace Tournament last Saturday at the Coral Ocean Point Resort golf course.

The Work Investment Agency employee fired a net score of five-under par 67 to take home the association’s first monthly championship of the year.

Tilipao, who sports a 14 handicap, carded a 40 in the front and a 41 in the back nine for a gross score of 81. His highlight came in the par-five No. 9 hole when he came up with a birdie.

Nick Sablan finished two shots off Tilipao’s pace and had to settle for runner-up honors with a three-under par 69.

His best shot came in the 14th hole when he made an incredible shot for birdie. Sablan shot identical 37s in the front and back nines and totaled a gross of 74. Sablan has a five handicap.

RGA president and Mr. Unorthodox, Jess Wabol, tied Sablan with a 69 but lost on a scorecard tiebreak against his fellow 2003 South Pacific Games veteran.

Wabol was good for a gross of 72 after going 38 in the front and 34 at the back. The former Oleai Elementary School principal is a three-handicap golfer.

Wabol wove his familiar magic on the difficult par-five 10th hole, when he tapped in for an eagle. He also had a birdie on hole No. 4.

Sasaki Oliver finished fourth in the scoring ladder with his two-under par 70 net score. The pride of Pohnpei carded a 74 gross. He has a four handicap.

Henry actually tied Oliver with also a 70 but lost in a scorecard tiebreak.

Other RGA members that suited up Saturday, with their net scores in parenthesis, were as follows: Joe Demapan (71); Eddie Peter (71); Manny Alvarez (72); Tony Satur (72); Ed Kapileo (74); Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho (74); Joe Wabol (74); Mr. Lee (75); Tony Camacho (76); Sonny Flores (76); Joji Taguchi (76), and John Guerrero (79).

Closest to the pin winners were Mr. Lee on hole No. 3 and Sablan on hole No. 14.

On a somber note, RGA players observed a moment of silence for former president Plasido Mareham Tagabuel before the start of the tournament. Tagabuel, who served as president of the association in 1993, passed away recently.

Next up for RGA players is the club’s February qualifying tournament set two Saturdays from now on Feb. 5 at the Kingfisher Golf Links.

Check in time is set at 11am with tee off scheduled an hour later at 12pm. Tournament fee is $30 and slots for 16 players are available.

RGA president Wabol also said that the club is entertaining new members at the start of the year. Membership fee is $50, which is the same cost for renewals.

The membership fee covers the period from January to December. Wabol is also reminding current RGA members to take care of their membership dues as early as possible.

For more information about RGA, the February qualifying tournaments, and the rest of its monthly tournaments this year, contact Wabol at 288-1129, Satur at 322-1562/1563 or Flores at 234-1748.