Junior golfer leads winners in Hyatt tournament

Championship Flight winner Dong Young Lee, left, is joined by Miss Marianas Peachy Quitugua during the awards presentation in the 21st Hyatt Regency Saipan Charity Golf Classic held last Saturday at the hotel’s pool side. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Junior golfer Dong Young Lee topped the Championship Flight in the 21st Hyatt Regency Saipan Charity Golf Classic held last Saturday at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort.

Lee was the runaway winner in the six-player field after scoring a net 64.6. He posted the third best gross in his division at 7-over par 79 and had a handicap of 14.4, making him the only player in the Championship Flight to register a net score lower than 70. His net score was also the best in the entire competition.
The junior golfer, who just last month ruled the NMC golf tournament at the same venue, defeated veterans Freddie Cataluna (net 72), Guam’s Daryl Poe (72.8), Joung Hoon Park (73.6) and Seung San Choi (74), and Laolao instructor Harry Nakamura (74.6).

In the Ladies Flight, Lorrained Babauta lorded it over 14 other female players after carding a net 73.8. The 7.2 handicapper shot a gross 81—which was the best in the division, tying Yuko Togawa. The former champion Togawa missed the Top 3 as she landed at No. 6 after logging a net 76.2, while Matilde Hocog and Shiori Onoue joined Babauta in the podium. Hocog was the runner-up after firing a net 73.8 (105 gross minus the 31.2 handicap), while Onoue finished third with her 74.2 (91 gross and 16.8 handicap).

Meanwhile, the champions in other divisions were A Flight’s Yong Jao Kim, B Flight’s Patrick Guerrero, C Flight’s Scott Berkland, and Senior Flight’s Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho.

The 4.8 handicapper Camacho had the best gross in the entire tournament with his 3-over par 75 and his net 70.2 topped the 15-player Senior Flight. Dennis Williams and Eun Teack Jung claimed the runner-up honors with the former ranked second after recording a net 72.8 and the latter third with his 74.6.

In the crowded C Flight, which drew 62 participants, Berkland stood out with his net 67, thanks to a 40 handicap that was deducted from his gross score of 107. Albert Pajarillaga (net 68.2) and Joaquin Deleon Guerrero (68.6) joined Berkland in the Top 3.

In the A Flight, the podium finishers all scored lower than 70. Kim posted a gross 83 and with his 16.8 handicap, he ended up with a net 66.2. Enoch Lim also registered a gross 83, but his 14.4 handicap gave him a net 68.6 for the runner-up honors, while William Retardo took the third seat with his net 69.8 (89 gross score minus 19.2 handicap).

In the B Flight, the Top 3 winners also had net scores in the 60s with Guerrero tallying 69.4 for a close win against Edgar Abalos (69.6). Danny Son matched Abalos’ net score, but dropped to third place after losing in the scorecard tiebreak.

Proceeds from last weekend’s tournament will be donated to Make-A-Wish Foundation, Kagman High School Million Dollar Club, Marianas Behavioral Health International, Karidat, Empty Vessel Ministry Foundation, and the Northern Marianas Humanities Council.