Aquiningoc shows way in RGA April Ace

Alex Aquiningoc’s qualifying score once again fell by the wayside, but this time he didn’t felt bad about it since it was he himself who topped the net 67 he scored a couple of weeks ago by carding a net 63 during Refaluwasch Golf Association’s April Ace of the Month Tournament last Saturday at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort east course.

Aquiningoc was on target right from the get-go and fired a 39 in the front nine before closing with another 39 in the back for a gross score of 78. After his 15 handicap was deducted, he was left with the sterling score of 63.

Richard A. Pierce was only a couple of strokes behind Aquiningoc at 65 after the Governor’s special assistant for trade relations and economic affairs shot a 40 in the front and 39 in the back for a 79 gross. Pierce is a handicap 14 golfer.

Pierce thought he had Aquiningoc when the newly minted April Ace found the boonies on one of his shots in the 16th hole, but Aquiningoc recovered nicely and tapped in for bogey.

Louie Pelisamen wound up third after his identical 45 in the front and back and 25 handicap gave him a net score of 66. RGA president Jess Wabol was two strokes off Pelisamen’s performance with is 68 after he went 36 and 36, which gave him the day’s best gross score of 71.

Carlos Salas (43-44) and Joe Demapan (44-38) finished with identical net 69s but the former edged the latter on a scorecard tiebreak to claim fifth place. Salas’ front nine net added up to 34, while Demapan’s was 36.

For all their troubles, Aquiningoc earned $100, Pierce $80, Pelisamen $70, Wabol $60, and Salas $50.

A total of 24 players participated in the April Ace, which welcomed Demapan and John Guerrero (79 net) as new members. Others that joined in the fun included Tony Satur (70), Joey Arriola (71) John Tagabuel (72), Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho (73), Ed “Doi” Tenorio (75), Rex Palacios (75), Bill Kaipat (77), Joe Wabol (77), Adam Hardwick (79), Sasaki Oliver (80), Gus Camacho (80), Reno Celis (83), and Mario Taitano (83).

In the closest to the pin competition, Pierce bested everyone in the No. 4 hole, while Gus Camacho was without peer in the 15th. Both took home $40.

For more information about RGA and its monthly tournaments, contact Wabol at 288-1129. RGA official Satur can be reached at 322-1562/1563, while Sonny Flores can be reached at 234-1748.