Jess Castro captures December Ace

Jess Castro won the December Ace of the Month Tournament of the Saipan Golfers Association thus allowing him to qualify for the club’s yearend championship later this month.

Castro finished with a net 70 built around a gross score of 83 last Nov. 30 at the Marianas Country Club. The 13-handicapper had an eagle in hole No. 9 and three pars in the front nine for a gross score of 40. He followed that up with a birdie in hole No. 13 and three more pars for a 43 in the back nine.

February winner Jose I. Sablan was a shot back with his net 71 (94 gross, 49-45), while July champion Nobert Sablan wound up third following a net 72 (95, 47-48).

A total of 20 SGA members took part in the December Ace. The names of the players, with their scores in parenthesis, were as follows: Frank Rosario (net 74); Larry I. Deleon Guerrero (75); John Babauta (75): Tony Camacho (75); Tont DL Guerrero (75): Ron Hodges (77); Mariano Fajardo (77); Joe Demapan (77); Ned Norita (77); Jung Teack (77); Art DL Guerreo (78); Joe Rosario (79); Ray San Nicolas (80); Das Krishnan (81); Carl J. Hocog (82); Mattias Chargualaf (84); and Frances Sablan (85).

In the longest drive competition, Hodges won in hole No. 2, while Norita took the prize in hole No. 17. Winners in the greenies were Krishnan (hole No. 6), Frank Rosario (8), Hodges (12), and Norita (16).

Hodges had the most in the birdies department with three, followed by Norita with two. Babauta, Castro, Art DL Guerrero, Hocog, and Frances Sablan had a birdie each.

Castro joins the other 11 monthly winners and earlier qualifiers for the club’s SGA Ace of Aces Tournament.

The list includes Fajardo (January), Jose I. Sablan (February), Norita (March), Larry I. Deleon Guerrero (April), Hocog (May), former Superior Court presiding judge Edward Manibusan (June), Nobert Sablan (July), Hodges (August), Art Deleon Guerrero (September), Steve Balakrishna (October), and Joe Demapan (November).

SGA’s two-day yearend Ace of Aces Tournament will be held on Dec. 13 and 14 at Kingfisher Golf Links and Coral Ocean Point Golf Resort, respectively.

The Ace of Aces awards banquet and SGA Christmas Party will then be held on Dec 19 at Charlie’s Cabaret of Pacific Islands Club.

For more information about SGA and its yearend Ace of Aces Tournament and Christmas Party, contact SGA president Martin Sablan at 483-6278, vice president John Takai at 484-3045, secretary Larry Guerrero at 287-1052, or tournament coordinator Mariano Fajardo at 483-2549.