Togawa wins in Guam, to play in Australia

Local golfer Noriko Togawa made one heck of an impression on the links in Guam over the weekend as she took the Ladies Flight of the two-day SandCastle Governor’s Tourism Cup at the Leo Palace Resort.

Togawa was one of over 200 duffers who battled the elements on Saturday and Sunday to emerge with an eyebrow raising total of 152 after posting a 75 and 77 respectively.

The lovely and talented Togawa received additional cause for celebration when she held the winning ticket for the Johnnie Walker Golf Classic trip raffle. Saipan’s golfing queen will join tour professionals Ernie Els, Colin Montgomery, Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Retief Goosen, and Nick Faldo among others in Perth, Australia this coming February thanks to a little bit of luck, Johnnie Walker, and Continental Airlines.

She won’t be making the trip alone as Togawa will be joined by 2005 Tournament of Champions winner Sasaki Oliver. Oliver was the tops in the Championship Flight in the last August, and his coach and first year award winner Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho picked his name in the recent raffle.

The pair will be leaving for Perth, Australia in early February to participate in the Johnnie Walker Classic Pro-Am Event on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the Vines Resort & Country Club.

According to TOC Chairman Rodney Klinge, this will be the first time that two golfers from Saipan will be able to attend the Johnnie Walker Classic Pro-Am at the same time and that their attendance will guarantee the CNMI is very well represented at the Johnnie Walker Classic.

“Having two Saipan golf representatives participating in the Johnnie Walker Classic Pro-AM will bring world recognition to the CNMI. We would like to wish Sasaki Oliver and Noriko Togawa the best of luck in the Johnnie Walker Classic Pro-Am, golfing with some of the world’s top names in professional golf. Follow your dreams,” said Klinge.

Klinge added that the Johnnie Walker Classic is not only the Asia-Pacific region’s most prestigious, but also its richest golf tournament because it is tri-sanctioned by the PGA, the European Tour and the Asian Tour.

There was more good news for the top golfers in the SandCastle Governor’s Tourism Cup as Klinge announced that the TOC will welcome a host of players from Saipan’s southernmost neighbor in the Marianas during the 2006 Tournament of Champions.

Patrick Wade, Jun Toledo, Jay Miller, John Sheather, Bob McLaughlin, and Tai Maulupe each received complimentary slots in the 2006 tournament in August by virtue of their wins, but all are welcome to make the journey north to play in Saipan’s biggest event on the links.