TOC set for Aug. 2 and 3

Par-busters and weekend warriors, circle your calendars for Aug. 2 and 3 when the CNMI’s biggest and richest golfing event, 13th Tournament of Champions, returns.

According to TOC chairman Ben Babauta, 288 players are scheduled to play in the two-day tournament that again hopes to raise money for the Saipan Beautification Fund. He said over the past 12 years, TOC has raised in excess of $500,000 for the fund.

“This will be another exciting year for TOC,” he said. “Not only are there amazing prizes up for grabs for the players, this is also a worthwhile cause to continue to beautify the island of Saipan.”

Babauta said in typical TOC fashion, this year’s tournament promises more excitement and prizes than in years past—justifying TOC’s reputation at the premier golf tournament in the region.

Entry forms may be picked up at the second floor executive offices at DFS Galleria, at LaoLao Bay Golf Resort or online at www.tocsaipan.com .

Jess “Mr. Unorthodox” Wabol won his second straight Tournament of Champions title in last year’s 12th TOC at the Laolao Bay golf Resort.

Wabol bested 12 other golfers and tamed the east and west course at Laolao by shooting a two-day total of 150 for a four-shot lead over closest pursuer and opening day leader Edward R. Flores 154 (75-79).

Wabol shot a 76 in the first day of competitions but bounced back with a 74 in the final day to snatch the TOC Championship Flight title from Flores’ hands.

The former Oleai Elementary School principal also won the TOC Championship Flight in 1998, 2000, and 2006. Ladies Flight veteran Noriko Togawa had the most number of wins with six including a string of five straight victories from 2001 to 2005.

Also completing her second consecutive title was rising teen golfer Leina Kim in the Ladies Flight. She posted a 15-stroke lead over Togawa, who won the inaugural event in 1996.

Other division winners were Gi Yeong Kim (A); Edward H. Cho (B); Gerald Guerrero (C); Ed Manibusan (Seniors); Lito Mendoza (Super Seniors); and Rose Tarpley (Ladies Low Net).

Japanese golfer Koji Hashimoto, who made the trip to Saipan from Osaka to join the TOC, also made a hole-in-one in the first day of the tourney. The Saipan tourist aced the 17th hole of Laolao’s west course to win a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer.