‘Support of the island was amazing’

Juan L. Babauta won the most accurate drive after his golf ball landed a mere 4mm within the cup in hole No. 8. of the 19th Annual HANMI Charity Classic Golf Tournament last Saturday at the Coral Ocean Resort. Joining Babauta is the photo is Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands president Gloria Cavanagh. (Mark Rabago)

The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands would like to thank everyone—sponsors, the organizing committee, the players, and volunteers—for its successful holding of the 19th Annual HANMI Charity Classic Golf Tournament last Saturday at the Coral Ocean Resort.

HANMI president Gloria Cavanagh said after they were forced to cancel the annual golf fundraiser last year, the HANMI Charity Classic Golf Tournament came back with a bang this year.

“As we were not able to have our tournament last year, this one was very special. What made it extremely special were the many sponsors that stepped forward during these hard times. Additionally, the players and the volunteers that made the event a very enjoyable time. Although we did things very different from in the past due to COVID-19, everyone seemed to be is great spirit. It was a very successful event.”

Cavanagh specially thanked 19th Annual HANMI Charity Classic Golf Tournament organizing committee chair Glenn Policare for manning the helm this year that was made more difficult amidst the pandemic.

“We were fully booked for the tournament. I would like to thank this year’s committee lead by Mr. Glenn Policare. They are the ones that had to go out and ask for sponsorship knowing that things are not great. They did a wonderful set up and everything went very smoothly…We had almost a 100 sponsors this year. Amazing!”

Policare himself said he and his committee wouldn’t have pulled off the successful staging of the event without the support of everyone.

“The support of the island was amazing. We had close to 144 golfers participate in our 19th annual tournament,” he said.

The longtime hotel executive said without the island community’s help in making the CNMI one of the safest places in the world when it comes to COVID-19, HANMI wouldn’t have been able to hold the tournament.
“In June of this year, the CNMI moved to Community Vulnerability Level: Green. The level of dedication of the island to keep all of us safe allowed us to hold our event while still maintaining current safety guidelines. There are many places in the world at the moment where a tournament like ours would not be possible. The CNMI has taken this pandemic very seriously which allowed us to see some serious golf this weekend!”

Cavanagh also reiterated that part of the proceeds from the HANMI golf tourney will be donated to the islands’ hosting of the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games.

“We chose the NMI Pacific Mini Games organizing committee as our benefactor for a few reasons. This is going to be a huge event for the CNMI. It signifies a return to somewhat of normalcy. It gives the CNMI hope and identity to represent who we are as a people. It allows us to display our local hospitality and beautiful island spirit and talent. As announced at the banquet, the CNMI plans to do things a little different that all other countries and territories that have hosted before. Instead of using an athletes village, the committee wanted to showcase our destination as one that the participants will want to come back to and enjoy. They will be using our hotels to house the athletes, coaching staff, and dignitaries. It only made sense to the HANMI tournament committee and to the board that we would assist in raising funds to ensure a successful event,” she said.

Policare seconded Cavanagh’s thoughts on why picking the Mini Games organizing committee as the beneficiary of the HANMI tourney was a no-brainer.

“A portion of the proceeds will be going to the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022. This will be one of, if not, the biggest event ever held on Saipan. As many of the 1,400 athletes from 19 countries will be staying in our partner hotels, the decision to assist the NMPMG 2022 was an easy one.”

Meanwhile, aside from J.J. Atalig topping the double Peoria tourney with a net 68 and Yuko Togawa and Younghee Yoo coming in second and third with net scores of 69.4 and 69.6, respectively, the HANMI tourney also awarded closest to the pin, longest drive, and most accurate drive winners during the awards banquet also held last Saturday at the COP clubhouse.

Closest to the pin were Zhiyun Li (12.5 inches) in hole No. 3, Steve Aguon (148.8 inches) in No. 12, Yoo Young (242 inches) in No. 11, Jeon Meae (7.8 inches) in No. 14, and Das Krishnan (155 ½ inches) in No. 7.

Ben Jones Jr. relived his all-star baseball days by winning the longest drive with a 262-yard swing in hole No. 11. The most accurate drive, meanwhile, was won by Juan L. Babauta when his ball landed a mere 4mm within the cup in hole No. 8.

All optional play winners except longest drive men’s and women’s won $200 each, while the latter two got hotel night stay each.

In terms of prize money for the Top 3 places, Atalig, Togawa, and Yoo pocketed $500 each, while fourth place (Ben Jones Jr.), fifth place (Peter Mendiola), and sixth place (Yang Kim) got $300 each. Seventh to ninth place (Chris Groves, Franco Santos, and Ray Quintanilla) went home with $200 each.

Cavanagh also thanked the many sponsors of the event. Presidential Suite Sponsors for this year’s tournament donating $2,000 or more are the Tan Siu Lin Foundation and Marianas Visitors Authority. Deluxe Package Sponsors donating $1,000 or more are Bridge Capitol LLC and Pacific Eco Laundry. Superior Package Sponsors donating $750 or more are GrandVrio Resort Saipan, Saipan World Resort, Kanoa Resort Saipan, IT&E, Kautz Glass, and Shirley’s Coffee Shop. VIP Package Sponsors donating $500 or more are Armatech, Ben’s International Corp., Chung Nam Corp., Chong’s Corp., Dial Rent to Own, DOCOMO Pacific Saipan, Ernst and Young, Ina’s Kitchen, Japan Saipan Travel Association, Kensington Saipan Hotel, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, Pacific Saipan, and Art Man Environment Corp.

Cash sponsors include Island Training Solutions, Korean Community of Saipan, Century Hotel, Lao Lao Bay Golf & Resort, Yaong Corp. K.L. Carr Ent., Sky Tour, Hana Tour, Mode Tour, Yes Tour, Oleai Beach Bar & Grill, and Pacific Eagle.

Donating a combination of cash and in-kind donations were Hyatt Regency Saipan, The Hut, Aqua Resort Club, Armatech, and IP&E Shell Marianas. The tournament was also supported by numerous other in-kind sponsors.

Golfers also had the chance to win several hole-in-one prizes, including a 2021 Toyota Camry LE from Atkins Kroll Saipan, a 2021 Hyundai Elantra from Triple J Motors, and a 2021 Nissan Kicks from Joeten Motors Company, and $10,000 cash from United Equipment Rental. No one was able to make an ace last Saturday, however.