TOC changes prize format and awards venue

With less than a month remaining before the biggest golfing event of the CNMI gets underway, organizers of the 2005 Tournament of Champions continued to make preparations for the 10th edition of the community-driven event by changing the venue for the awards banquet and making a change to one of the biggest prizes of the weekend.

After the strikers and slicers spend the better part of two days at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort in hopes of winning one of their flights, they will gather at the Saipan Grand Hotel in Susupe to receive their laurels and libations.

The original site for the awards banquet was the Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach, but returned to its previous home due to renovation to the Garapan landmark. While there, the top finishers among the dining duffers will have a chance to win the trip of a lifetime, as the winners from each flight will be entered into a drawing for a slot in the 2005 Johnny Walker Classic Pro-Am in Perth, Australia.

Last year, Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho earned the slot for finishing atop the Championship Flight, but this time around the trip is going to the lucky winner of a random drawing.

The list of prizes continues to grow, as does the list of sponsors contributing to the success of the annual golf-athon.

The 2005 Tournament of Champions will be held on Saturday, Aug. 6, and continue the following day on Sunday, Aug. 7, at one of Saipan’s finest facilities, but duffers interested in joining the annual must-play event can save themselves some money for the 19th Hole by signing up with the $200 early-bird registration fee is by July 29. Procrastinators will have to part with $225, and no entries will be accepted after 5pm on Wednesday, Aug. 3.

While entry forms for the TOC are now available at LaoLao Bay Golf Resort, the DFS security office, at the Saipan driving ranges, and the Shell stations in San Roque, Gualo Rai and Susupe, they may also be printed from the TOC website at www.tocsaipan.org, where entrants can also eye the 2005 TOC Events Calendar.

TOC sponsor should take note that while they have player slots available through their sponsorship, the organizing committee still needs all registration forms, preferably prior to Thursday, Aug. 4.

As a reminder to all interested off-island golfers, reduced room rates may be obtained through Dorina Gabutero at the Aqua Resort Club by calling (670) 322-1234. Be sure to mention that you will be participating in the 2005 Tournament of Champions, as the TOC organizing committee will not be able to make reservations for you.