Rogolifoi steals RGA February Ace

Last Sunday was payback time for Tony Rogolifoi.

After being booted out in the Top 3 during the February Ace qualifying tournament, Rogolifoi returned at the Kingfisher Golf Links last weekend and fired the group’s best net 65.

His score not only topped the 16-player field, but also surpassed the net 67 Jay Choi recorded during the February qualifier early this month also at Kingfisher. Choi set the score to beat for the February Ace tournament after defeating the 68 Kim So, Ray Tigilau, and Rogolifoi tallied in the qualifier where the latter dropped out of the Top 3 after losing in the scorecard tiebreak on the front nine.

After the sorry loss, 16-handicapper Rogolifoi had vengeance on his eyes and played consistently at the Talafofo course with his 41 and 40 on the front and back nines, respectively. His net 65 is so far the lowest net score early in the 2012 season and it qualified him for the club championship that will be played later this year.

Joining Rogolifoi in the Top 3 in last weekend’s tournament were Jordon Kosam and Tars Olopai, who carded a net 68 and 69, respectively.

Kosam, who also sports a 16 handicap, shot a 41 on the front and a 42 on the back for a gross 84. One of the highlights of his game was a birdie on the par-4, 261-yard hole No. 16. His tee shot dropped 30 feet away from the hall and he attempted for an eagle before settling for a birdie.

Olopai fell one stroke behind Kosam, but had more birdies than the latter with four (Nos. 1, 3, 9, and 12) and was consistent with his game, posting 39s on both nines for a gross 78. The 9-handicapper Olopai beat Manny Mangarero in the scorecard tiebreak (front nine) for third place. Mangarero, who also holds a 9 handicap, had a 40 on the front and 38 on the back, ending up with a net 35.5 in the first nine holes against the 34.5 of Olopai.

Other RGA members who joined the weekend tournament were Joe Saures (net 71), Frankie Pangelinan (73), Choi (74), Lawrence Camacho Jr. (74), Ki Soo Kim (74), Sonny Flores (76), Tigilau (76), Tom Tebuteb (77), Henry Liang (80), Ahn Hun Jin (82), Bill Limes (82), and Vincent Fung Chai (84).

Meanwhile, RGA would like to thank Saures and his family for hosting a dinner for club members after the tournament. The group also reminds interested individuals that RGA membership is still open for an annual fee of only $25.

For more information, contact Saures at 483-5506, Jess Wabol at 288-1129, and Kosam at 483-4506.