Judge takes wing at Laolao Bay

The man who used to preside over the courts now rules the greens as former Superior Court presiding judge Ed Manibusan delivered his verdict to the verdant carpet by taking the Saipan Golf Association’s January Ace of the Month on the beautiful and challenging west course of the Laolao Bay Golf Resort this past Sunday.

Manibusan split even on each of the nine-hole halves with a gross score of even par 36-36 72. His four-handicap put him over the top for the day’s low net of 68, and the way he reached the title was anything but par for the course.

Wielding the big stick from the 16th tee box, Manibusan reached the green in two and tapped in for an eagle on the 528-yard par five. The Judge wasn’t through tapping out as he recorded similar birdies on the 18th green and on the 502-yard par five fifth hole.

Manibusan was used to the limelight early in the year as he was also the 2005 January Ace, but his runners-ups also got their share of fame as well.

There was a three-way tie for second best that officials decided by a scorecard tie break, and Max Castro emerged with the second place nod with a 44-46 90 gross score that made way for his 18-handicap for a net score of 72, while Norbert Sablan bagged third with yet another tiebreaker after completing the course with a 47-44 91 gross score. Sablan’s 19-handicap gave him a net score of 72 on the day, but his performance on the 15th hole gave him the edge over fourth place finisher Tony Guerrero, who managed a 42-45 87 gross before adding in his 15-handicap for a net score of 72.

Guerrero didn’t walk away empty handed as he scored the “Closest to the Pin” plumb on the 13th green, a feat equaled by Rick Kautz on the 3rd, Jess Castro on the 13th, and junior golfer James Balajadia on the 17th.

Balajadia also scored points with the striking sages as he took the longest drive competition on the second hole, while tournament runner-up Max Castro did the same on the 12th.

According to SGA secretary Larry Guerrero, the association had a full day as the golfers also held elections during the post-tournament banquet where they retained the services of SGA president Ben Aldan for another year. Aldan will choose his officers in the near future.

Guerrero also mentioned that the strikers and slicers will return to the links next month on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Coral Ocean Point Golf Resort to decide the February Ace of the Month.

More details about the tournament will be available soon, and for more information about joining ranks of the SGA, contact Guerrero at 256-1052 or 287-1052, Aldan at 234-3176, or Joe Sablan at 664-3907.