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Maui tops ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ tourney
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Posted on Nov 28 2017
Champion Golfer of the Year Wil Maui receives the winner’s ”check” from Ye Olde Saipanne Golfe Clubbe secretary Richard “Caddy Dipper” Miller. (Contributed Photo)
Wilhelm “Paki” Maui won the 4th Annual Ye Olde Saipanne Golfe Clubbe “Champion Golfer of the Year” tournament held last Saturday at the Kingfisher Golf Links.
Maui ruled the weekend competition after posting an impressive gross score of 77 in windy and rainy conditions at the Talofofo course. Maui, a nine-handicapper, shot a 37 on the front nine and 40 on the back for a net score of 68. His display of golfing prowess was especially pronounced on the No. 9 and No. 15 holes, both of which Maui birdied.
On the No. 9, the former bodybuilder muscled a massive drive over the pond guarding the fairway and followed by flipping a five iron onto the putting surface. After narrowly missing an eagle putt, Maui settled for a tap-in birdie. On the No. 14, Maui smashed another gargantuan drive into the teeth of a 25-mile an hour wind, then drilled an 8-iron beneath the breeze to six feet before burying the birdie putt.
Maui continued his torrid scoring pace right to the end of his round, as he saved par on the difficult No. 17 hole before reaching the par-4 No. 18 in two shots and calmly two-putting for a par 4 in front of the assembled mob consisting of his fellow competitors.
After the final scores were tallied, Maui’s net 68 was six strokes better than second place finisher Rob “Sandy” Hazlett, a 22-handicapper and finished with a gross 96 for a net 74. In third place was Greg “Fossil” Koebel, who shot a gross 86 which translated to a net 75 for the 11-handicapper.
Also playing in the tournament were two past Ye Olde Saipanne Golfe Clubbe “Champion Golfers of the Year” Michael “26” Deary, who took the title in 2016 and Don “Champ” Dunlop, who won the inaugural event in 2014. Other participants included Richard “Fast Richie” Jones, “Fat” Jack McClure, Tim “Tex” Brasuell, Jim “Bubba” Gebhard, “Double” Dan Harding, Kai-yo Podziewski, and Grant Balmer.
