Sablan wins A Flight in playoff

Frank D. Sablan gets ready to swing in a playoff game in the A Flight division against Rene Batallones on hole No. 17 of the east course of the Laolao Bay Golf and Resort during the 21st Annual Governor’s Tournament of Champions last Sunday. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Frank D. Sablan’s approach on the playoff hole worked as he defeated Rene Batallones in the tiebreak for first place in the A Flight division of last Sunday’s 21st Annual Governor’s Tournament of Champions.

Sablan and Batallones finished the regular 18-hole round with similar scores of 7-over 79 and had to return to the par-4, 326-yard No. 17 hole on the east course of the Laolao Bay Golf and Resort to determine this year’s A Flight champion. Sablan, who had a 2-over par 38 on the front nine and 5-over par 41 on the back went on to win the standoff with a bogey, while Batallones slid to second place after hitting a double bogey. Batallones, who registered a 4-over 40 in the first nine holes, forced the deadlock after carding a 3-over par 39 in the last nine.

Before teeing off, both golfers were asked how they will tackle the deciding hole and Sablan said he had to land his shot to the left, while Batallones wanted to drop his ball to the center. Batallones teed off first and had a long shot at the center, while Sablan had his to the left and several yards behind the forker’s.

Sablan went on to close the gap with Batallones as his third shot landed on the greens, while the latter’s headed a bit far left to the fairways. The eventual champion then almost drilled a par with his ball nearly kissing the cup before he settled for the bogey. Batallones, on the other hand, made two short shots in his fourth and fifth putt before sinking the ball on his sixth attempt.

With the victory in the tiebreak, Sablan took the $500 top prize and a Royal Salute from sponsor Titan Imports. Batalones pocketed the $400 runner-up cash prize along with a bottle of Chivas 18YO.

Joining Sablan and Batallones in the Top 5 and getting recognition during the awards ceremony for the shortened tournament were Joseph Muna, Dong Kyu Lee, and Taro Aikawa. Muna placed third after scoring a 9-over par 81, while Lee and Aikawa finished fourth and fifth as they recorded 10-over 82 and 11-over par 83, respectively, in the one-day tournament.

Ten other players joined the A Flight with Yong Joo Kim coming in at sixth place with his gross score of 84 and followed by Joey Dela Cruz (85), Takao Urasawa (86), Young Woo Lee (87), Jordan Sundell (97), Peter Tenorio (88), Stephen Carter (88), Luis Tilipao (89), John Reyes (90), and Joseph Cabrera (107).