Putt Buddies wins 2022 Wollak Golf Cup

Fifteen teams comprised of 60 players joined the 2022 Wollak Golf Cup held last Sunday at the Kingfisher Golf Links in Talafofo. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Putt Buddies topped the 13th Annual Wollak Golf Cup by conquering the green and fairways of the Kingfisher Golf Links in Talafofo last Sunday.

The team made up of Lom Linden, Dominic Kieffer, Nick Kelley, and Edward Manibusan took advantage of the 83-degree weather and shot a score of 72 2/3 to top a field of 15 teams that comprised a total of 60 players.

The Wollak Golf Cup is known to gather golf enthusiasts around the islands to play under looser mechanics that was made to make it more fun and to raise funds for the benefit of Saipan Cares For Animals.
The Best Dressed Team award went to sCrATch playa’z that included Tina Goodwin, Angie Mister, Elly Lee, and Kyunga Park.

Dan Wollak, founder of the Wollak Golf Cup and a PE teacher at Marianas High School, said each year the tournament just keeps on growing.

“Early on we didn’t have any sponsors, a raffle, catered food, or anything like that. Three years ago, I decided to make the tournament a fundraiser for Saipan Cares for Animals. The $10 of the entrance fee goes to Saipan Cares for Animals,” he said.

“With the generous donations from our sponsors we were able to start adding a raffle as well and all raffle proceeds go to Saipan Cares for Animals. We also had some of the golfers donate extra to Saipan Cares and donate their prize money to the organization,” he added.

This year, the Wollak Golf Cup raised a total of $1,019 for SCA.

“I am a dog lover and many people in the tournament are pet owners as well. Saipan Cases is vital to all pet owners here and I really appreciate what Saipan Cares does for our community. With the entrance fee, donations, and raffle we were able to donate $1,019 to Saipan Cares for Animals,” Wollak said

“I couldn’t think of a better organization to give that money to. I know it will go to good use and we have been able to give them over $3,500 over the past three tournaments,” he added

Every year the Wollak Golf Cup presents different experiences and many unforgettable one.

“My highlight is just seeing happy golfers. You could hear a lot of hooting and hollering on the course throughout the round. I got a lot of great feedback during the awards ceremony from the players saying they look forward to playing in the tournament every year and appreciate that the golfers were so generous with their donations. From Charlie Peters’ last place team to Tom Linden’s first place team, everyone seemed to have a blast and at the end of the day, that is my ultimate goal,” Wollak said.

The Wollak Golf Cup’s major sponsors are MARPAC, which for the third straight year donated drinks and merchandise for the awards ceremony; Top Shelf Wine and Spirits, which donated wine, cigars, and golf balls for the raffle; and Skydive Saipan, which donated a free skydive or WACO plane ride as the grand prize for the raffle. The other sponsors that provided prizes for the raffle include McDonald’s, Shell, IT&E, Marianas Trekking, and Kingfisher Golf Links.