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NMI golf team ready for Pacific Games
CNMI men’s golf team player-coach Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho declared they are prepared for the upcoming battle in the XV Pacific Games set to open on July 4 at the Sir John Guise Sports Complex in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Camacho
Golf, which offers four gold medals with two each in the men’s and women’s individual and team events, will be played from July 15 to 18 at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club.
Camacho, who is suiting up for the CNMI for the fourth time, said the team is excited to carry the Commonwealth colors.
“They are pretty much ready. The guys are excited to represent the CNMI in this edition of the Pacific Games. We are feeling relaxed and no pressure since we’re all veteran golfers,” said Camacho in a telephone interview with the SaipanTribune.
“We’re going to give our best in this high level competition and what is expected of us. The guys have been putting up a lot of hours practicing. We continue to practice individually if we can’t do it as a group,” Camacho added.
He thinks that Tahiti and host Papua New Guinea are the favorites to win the gold, but added that New Caledonia and Fiji are also capable of pulling off a surprise.
“Tahiti is one of the traditional powerhouse teams in golf. They are one of the teams to beat, while Papua New Guinea has the advantage because of their familiarity with the course,” Camacho said.
Papua New Guinea has won a total of nine gold medals in golf, five of which are in the team events. New Caledonia swept all four golds at stake when they hosted the quadrennial event in Noumea in 2011.
Meanwhile, Camacho thanked everyone that supported their various fundraising events.
Joining Camacho on the team are Harry Nakamura, Franco Santos, and Louie Tilipao and they will leave Saipan for PNG on July 11. The squad will head to Guam first where they will take a 6pm flight to Australia. They will have a 12 to 15 hour layover in Australia before heading to Port Moresby in time for the two-day practice rounds on July 13 to 14.
