Olopai gets RGA October Ace

 Tars Olopai was awarded the RGA October Ace title after shooting a net 79 in the Refaluwasch Golf Association monthly tournament last Sunday at Coral Ocean Point.

The 5-handicapper carded a 40 and 44 on the front and back nines of the Agingan Point course for a gross 84 and net 79, one stroke ahead of the score to beat (80), which Olopai incidentally recorded late last month during the October qualifier also at COP.

Actually, four other RGA members logged better than net 80, but were ineligible to take the monthly plum and qualify for the club championship. Manny Mangarero shot a net 75, tying junior golfer Lawrence Camacho Jr. and Jorge Moses. Mangarero and Camacho had already clinched monthly ace awards and are disqualified to win, while Moses is a new member, joining his first RGA event last weekend thus could not meet the six tournaments requirement. Ace winners are only allowed to play in the RGA Club Championship if they compete in at least six tournaments the club sanctioned.

Despite being disqualified for the October Ace, Mangarero, who beat Camacho and Moses in the tiebreak on the front nine, still pocketed the cash prize at stake in the weekend competition. The 7-handicapper Mangarero, who had a 39 and 43 on the front and back nines, prevailed in the deadlock after posting a net 35.3 in the first nine holes. Camacho, a 10 handicapper and nailed a 42 and 43 on the front and back nines, dropped to second with his net 37. The 11-handicapper Moses shot 43s on both nines, leaving him with a net 37.5 in the first nine holes for a third place finish.

Eric Lizama, who also missed the six tournaments requirement, took the No. 4 spot with his net 78, followed by Olopai, Tom Tebuteb (81), Jess Wabol (82), and Tony Rogolifoi (83).

The 24-handicapper Lizama drilled a 54 on the front back and played better on the back with his 48; Tebuteb, a 20-handicapper, had a 48 and 53 on the front and back nines, respectively; Wabol, a 2 handicapper, tallied a 44 and 40; and the 13-handicapper Rogolifoi made a 50 and 46.

Meanwhile, RGA will hold its two-man scramble tournament at the Marianas Country Club on Oct. 23. Pairings will be determined via raffle, while other details of the tournament will be announced later.

For more information about RGA tournaments, contact Olopai at 483-5508, Rogolifoi at 288-3515, and Wabol at 288-1129.