Junior golfer stands out in NMC tourney

Championship Flight winner Edward Lee, center, is joined in the photo by Northern Marianas College president Carmen Fernandez, right, and NMC Foundation board chair Mary Tenorio, during the awards ceremony for the 14th NMC Foundation Golf Tournament held last Saturday at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort. (Erwin T. Encinares)

Arguably the youngest participant in the Northern Marianas College Foundation’s 14th Annual Golf Tournament, junior golfer Edward Lee packs a powerful strike that rivals those decades beyond his age group.

The 13-year-old Lee ruled the Championship Flight of the tournament held on the east course of the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort last Saturday after shooting a 5-over par 77. He fired a 39 on the front nine and a 38 on the back to prevail against six other golfers in his division.

Ryan Kim, who came in at second place with his 7-over par 79, recorded a 42 on the front nine and a 37 on the back. He beat Daryl Poe through the scorecard tiebreak. Poe matched Kim’s score after carding a 43 on the front nine and 36 on the back.

A Flight first placer Soo Lim Sung came up with a 10-over par 82, logging 39 on the front nine and 43 on the back to beat Frank Sablan. Sablan posted a 12-over par 84, recording a 45 on the front nine and 39 on the back. Dave Largent rounded out the Top 3 after scoring a 14-over par 86, built around his 39 on the front nine and 47 on the back.

In the B Flight, Kwom Oh Tae fired an 8-over par 80 with his 40s on both nines to rule the field. Benjamin Maborang was ranked second with his 12-over par 84 and 42s on both nines. Third placer Daniel Quitugua hit a 13-over par 85, scoring a 43 on the front nine and 42 on the back.

C Flight winners were led by champion and former CNMI governor Juan N. Babauta, who came up with a 13-over par 85. He beat second placer Luis Cepeda in scorecard tiebreak. Babauta scored 41 in his first nine holes and 44 in his last, while Cepeda made a 43 on the front nine and 42 on the back. Third placer John Compton got a 15-over par 87, with a 42 on the front nine and 45 on the back.

Seniors’ Flight was no slouch as Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho led the pack with 4-over par 76 after posting a pair of 38s. He beat hole-in-one winner Jang Hyew Duck, who after sinking the par-3, 130 yard hole No. 6, ended up with a 5-over par 77 (40 on the front nine and 37 on the back). Joung Park came in at third with his 6-over par 78—37 on the front nine and 41 for the back.

Meanwhile, in the Ladies Flight, Chang Hee Yoo topped the Low Gross category with her 9-over par 81, while Shiori Onoue was the Low Net winner.

The champion in each flight went home with $500 cash, while the second and third finishers got $300 and $200, respectively.