Lee dethrones Retardo

The Top 3 finishers in the Championship Flight, from left, Edward Lee, William Retardo, and J.J. Atalig, pose for a photo during the awards ceremony for the 3rd Annual Governor’s Tourism Cup Golf Tournament last Saturday at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Junior golfer Edward Lee foiled William Retardo’s bid for a three-peat after prevailing in the 3rd Annual Governor’s Tourism Cup Golf Tournament held last Saturday at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort.

Not even the double-peoria format of the fundraising tournament could prevent Lee from dethroning two-time winner Retardo in the centerpiece Championship Flight, as the former shot a gross 2-under par 70 on the east course of the Kagman facility. With a 0 handicap, Lee kept his original score, which was still ahead of the net 70.40 of Retardo, who had a gross 74 and a 3.60 handicap. J.J. Atalig completed the Top 3 in the division after shooting a net 72.40 (gross 76 and 3.60 handicap). Lee, Retardo, and Atalig went home with $300, $200, and $100 for making it to the podium.

Chandler Kallas and Freddie Cataluna were the other golfers who played in the Championship Flight and logged nets 72.80 and 75.80, respectively.

The 15-year-old junior golfer managed to rule the weekend tournament and post the best gross score in the entire field after firing a 3-under par 33 in the first nine holes. He started the round with back-to-back birdies on the par-4 No. 1 and par-5 No. 2 and did the same on the par-4 No. 5 and 8 to close out the front nines with a two-shot lead over Kallas (1-under 35). Lee than added another birdie on the par-5 No. 14 and saved pars on six of the last nine holes to keep his distance. Chandler, on the other hand, slowed down in the final nine holes with his 39, allowing Retardo (36/38) to catch him up.

Meanwhile, Ned Norita, Diego Benavente, Burt Suda, Anthony Benavente, Nick Sablan, and Hyun Son were the top finishers in the other flights.

Son recorded a net 72 to rule the Ladies Flight, while Yuko Togawa and Shirley Jones joined her in the Top 3 after registering 73 and 73.60, respectively. In the A Flight, there was also a close battle for the Top 3 with Norita carding a net 70 to prevail against the 70.20 and 70.40 of Peter Tenorio and Joseph Muna.

In the B Flight, Diego Benavente was under the weather, but still came out with his A game to clinch first place in the division after recording the entire field’s second-best net score (69). He was two shots ahead of runner-up Albert Pajarillaga (71), while Calvin Yamagishi rounded out the Top 3 following his net 71.20.

In the C Flight, Suda won a closely fought competition against Ray Santos, as the former tallied a net 71.60 against the latter’s 71.80. Hyatt Regency Saipan general manager Nick Nishikawa finished third with his 73.40 net.

In the Senior Flight, Anthony Benavente logged the best low net score (68.40) in last weekend’s tournament to win against five other golfers in his division. Anthony was joined in the podium by Bob Hudkins and Joe Tenorio, who carded nets 71 and 72, respectively.

For the Super Senior Flight, perennial winner Nick Sablan was at it again, as his net 73 gave him the victory in the nine-player field. Fellow veteran golfers Tony Satur and Frank Castro completed the Top 3 of the division after posting 73.60 and 73.80 respectively.