Sablan gets SGA March Ace title

Nick Sablan, seen here competing in a local tournament at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort, took the Saipan Golfers Association March Ace title. (Contributed Photo)

Saipan Golfers Association is playing catchup after missing several monthly tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, it just held its third competition for the year with veteran Nick Sablan winning the SGA March Ace event last Aug. 23 at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort.

Sablan was on target on the east course of the Kagman facility, as he shot a 36 and 35 on the front and back nines, respectively, for a 1-under par 71. He holds a 6 handicap, leaving him with a net 65 for a five-stroke win against Tony Deleon Guerrero, Das Krishnan, and Larry Deleon Guerrero. Tony fired a 41 and 44 and owns a 15 handicap for a gross 85 and net 70, winning the three-way tie for second against Krishnan and Larry. The 12-handicapper Krishnan posted a gross 82 with his 40 in the first nine holes and 42 in the last, while the 18-handicapper Larry carded a 46 and 42 for a gross 88.

Meanwhile, besides topping the March Ace tournament, Sablan also hit the longest drive on holes No. 3 and 8. In the closest to the pin contest, Alex Tudela, Juan Pan Guerrero, and Attorney General Edward Manibusan prevailed on holes No. 15, 11, and 6, respectively.

Manibusan, the reigning SGA Ace of Aces, finished first in SGA’s last competition before COVID-19 stalled the group’s tournaments. The 7-handicapper had a net 69 and gross 76 (40 on the front nines and 36 on the back) during the February Ace tournament at the Kingfisher Golf Links. However, since Manibusan had already won the January Ace, the February crown was handed to second placer Jung Eun Taeack, who tallied a net 72.

Taeck, a 12-handicapper, drilled a 44 and 40 on the front and back nines, respectively, for a gross 84 and net 72—just one shot ahead of Manny Alvarez. Also sporting a 12 handicap, Alvarez delivered a net 73 and gross 85 following his 45 in the first nine holes and 40 in the last to settle for third.

Besides his third place finish in the February competition, Alvarez made three closest to the pin shots (No. 12, 17, and 6), while Guerrero had the same feat on hole No. 6. In the longest drive contests, Sablan and Krishnan topped holes No. 11 and 2, respectively.

With SGA needing to make up for six competitions, the group will hold two events every month starting this Saturday at the Kingfisher Golf Links. The April and May Ace events will be held this weekend, while the June and July will take place in October, and the August and September tournaments are set for November. In December, SGA will have the October and November Ace, while the club championship along with the December Ace event are slated for January next year.