$30K hole-in-one prizes in Rotary golf

A total of $30,000 in cash prizes await hole-in-one winners in the Rotary Club of Saipan’s 2008 District Governor’s Charity Golf Tournament slated on Nov. 9 at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort.

Hole-in-one winners in the 3rd, 13th, and 17th holes on the west course of the Kagman golf facility will each receive $10,000 in cash.

Shell Marianas is sponsoring hole No. 3, which is a par-3, 189-yard hole. Hole-in-one prize on the par-3 158-yard hole No. 13 will come from First Hawaiian Bank. The third hole-in-one prize on the par-3, 180-yard No. 17 will be given by AON Insurance.

A special prize also awaits the winner of the closest to the pin contest on the par-3, 160-yard hole No. 7.

On top of the special prizes, the Top 5 placers in the annual tournament are guaranteed cash prizes.

The top finisher will get $500, $400 for second, $300 for third, $200 for fourth, and $100 for fifth. Consolation prizes will be given to the 6th to 10th placers.

This year’s Rotary golf tournament will have a double-peoria format.

Showtime is at 6am, while a shotgun start is set for 7am.

Awarding ceremony will be held at the “The Range” with organizers giving raffle prizes to participants.

Last year, Martin Duenas won the Rotary golf fundraiser despite failing to finish on top of the field, landing in 11th place among 65 participants.

Organizers awarded the $500 cash prize and a trophy to the tournament’s 11th placer, as the event was held on the 11th day of the 11th month.

Hiroyuki Sugimoto finished 40th, but received the runner-up prize, as the Rotary Club of Saipan celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Alex Aquiningoc settled for third despite recording the lowest net score in the one-day tournament.

Tournament coordinator Ben Babauta said that this year’s the event will return to the regular format with the winners to be decided by the lowest net scores.

“We are encouraging golf enthusiasts on the island to join us in a tournament for a worthy cause,” Babauta said.

Part of the proceeds from the tournament will go to the Kagman Community Children’s Park.

Golfers wishing to compete in next month’s tournament must pay the $100 entrance fee. Entry forms should be returned to Babauta before the start of the tournament.

For more information, contact Babauta at 236-2563 or 483-2563.