ToC tweaked for 2008 edition

The 2008 Tournament of Champions will have an additional category this year, as the premier golf competition in the region added a two-day double Peoria to its bevy of prizes.

In an interview last Wednesday, ToC organizing committee chair Ben Babauta said they tweaked the format this year to ensure better participation from the region’s golf enthusiasts.

He also acknowledged that the double Peoria format has been quite popular recently because it levels the playing field for all entrants.

Babauta said the double Peoria category will have the same cash and in-kind prizes set aside as the regular categories—Championship Flight, A Flight, B Flight, C Flight, Seniors and Super Seniors flights as well as the Ladies Low Gross.

First place in the said flights and the double Peoria category takes home $600, second place is $500, and third place is $500. Fourth place gets a DVD player, while fifth place bags a $100 gift certificate from DFS Saipan.

The 2008 Tournament of Champions is set for Aug. 2 and 3 at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort.

The early bird registration for TOC continues until July 25. The registration fee is $200 per player and moves to $225 after July 25. You may register at the DFS Galleria Saipan Monday-Friday between the hours of 8am and 5pm. You may pick up entry forms at DFS or any of the golf courses on Saipan. You may also download it at www.tocsaipan.com.

According to Babauta, five lucky players in this year’s tournament will also have an opportunity to win $1 million each in this year’s Million Dollar Shootout.

To enter the Million Dollar Shootout, you must be a registered player in TOC. You may purchase raffle tickets for $1 each to enter the shootout.

The tickets will be sold on Day 1 of the tournament. Five raffle tickets will be drawn and those lucky winners will have one shot each at a hole-in-one before teeing off on Aug. 3. If you are successful with the hole-in-one you will walk away with $1 million. If your ticket is not chosen, you will still be in the raffle drawing at the banquet to be held at the Saipan World Resort at 6pm on Aug. 3.

This year’s TOC will mark the 13th year of the tournament on Saipan. Since its inception, TOC has given over $500,000 to the Saipan Beautification Fund. This money has been used for the traffic medians from Garapan to the Palms Resort Saipan, the revitalization of the Garapan special district, the enhanced beautification of the Paseo de Marianas, lighting of the Beach Pathway, landscaping on the port to path walkway and other beautification projects.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities for the 2008 TOC, please contact Andy Tidwell of Couture Marketing at 234-1305 or via email at andytidwellsf@yahoo.com.