Maui marvelous in June monthly tourney

Maui

Wil Maui topped the Fil-Taga Golfer Association June Ace of the Month Tournament last June 24 at the Kingfisher Golf Links in Talafofo.

The 11-handicapper fired a net score of 68 following a gross of 79 (41-38) to rule the monthly tournament.

The 63-year-old economics and statistics teacher at Northern Marianas College beat Bert Suda and Ronnie Santos who finished with identical net scores of 70 for the June ace.

Suda, however, took second place after beating Santos in a scorecard tiebreaker. Suda finished with a gross score of 89 (45-44), while Santos finished with an 87 (44-43).

Maui said he’s thrilled to have won the June Ace of the Month Tournament.

“Now I qualify for the Ace of Aces and I’m now on vacation in Palau, from July 3 to Aug. 1. I dedicate the win to my two playing partners—Bert and Romy (Cayetano). It was great fun playing with the two of them that day.”

He added that last June 23 at the Kingfisher Golf Links was perfect for a round of golf.

“The weather was fair and with some winds and light rain. The key to my victory was avoiding penalties (out of bounds or water) and minimizing 3-putts.” 

Maui birdied hole No 1 with a put from the fringe, which gave him an auspicious start. He was then steady until hole No. 5 when he hit his second short shot into the hazard and had to take a penalty and ended up with a 3-over 7.

Luckily, he birdied hole No.  6 to minimize the damage and closed the front nine with a 41. Maui played steady in the back nine with a birdie in hole No. 13 and a bogey in hole No. 17 and a double in hole No. 18 for a 38 on the back and a gross score of 7-over par 79. 

A total of 14 players took part in the Fil-Taga June Ace of the Month Tournament. The rest of the field, with their net scores in parenthesis, are as follows: Romy Cayetano (70), Jhun Cayetano (71), Henry Bautista (72), Edgas Abalos (73), Lito Mendoza (74), Albert Pajarillaga (74), Jess Yumul (74), Das Krishnan (75), Dan Ganacias (75), Tony Cabrera (78), and Freddie Cataluna (79). 

In the par 3 competition, Pajarillaga won in hole No. 6, Juhn Cayetano in hole No. 8, Krishnan in hole No. 12, and Mendoza in hole No. 15.

With the win last June, Maui now joins Ganacias (January), Hak Chon Bae (February), Cabrera (March), Emil Padernal (April), and Cataluna (May) as early qualifiers for the season-ending Fil-Taga June Ace of the Month Tournament.