TOC is a go—rain or shine

Despite a recent rash of foul weather that has been soaking the soil and volcanic eruptions that have darkened the skies, the 10th Annual Tournament of Champions is still on course to offer duffers from across the region the finest golfing event in the Marianas at LaoLao Bay Golf Resort this morning—rain or shine.

According to TOC chairman Rodney Klinge, the organizers of the premier links happening of the year agree that the TOC will go off without a hitch, and that they only thing that will change is that the golfers will have to make use of their umbrellas.

“It’s a go. We’re running full steam ahead,” said Klinge.

While the rain will not be enough to put the TOC on hold, Klinge said that the golf-athon will pause in the unlikely event of lightning in the area.

“We can always call a rain delay for an hour until it passes if we need to,” he said.

All eyes will be focused on the Championship Flight to see if Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho can repeat his feat from 2004 when he earned the right to represent the TOC in the 2005 Johnnie Walker Classic in China.

While the interest will still be there, the same prize may not, as this time around the lucky winner of a random drawing will get the nod to go to Perth, Australia for the 2006 Johnnie Walker Classic Pro-Am next February.

No matter who gets the trip, everyone is a winner as the organization will continue to provide aesthetic improvements to the local landscape as it has by furnishing the medians along Chalan Pale Arnold from Garapan to Hotel Nikko, several Garapan beautification projects, and assisting with the recent completion of the Paseo de Marianas landscaping and lighting.

Following the tournament, the TOC is focusing its efforts on reshaping the face of the Garapan by adding landscaping, lighting, curbs, and sidewalks from the Bank of Guam intersection to Happy Market with the Tournament of Champions Beautification Fund.

There are also plans to connect the beach pathway to the commercial port so that visitors from incoming cruise ships and naval vessels will have the opportunity to enjoy the island’s beauty while strolling into town.

The tournament gets underway with a shotgun start at 7am this morning and will continue tomorrow with the second and final round of action before the entire field retires to the Saipan Grand Hotel in Susupe to receive their laurels and libations.