Team COP makes podium in PH golf tournament

Members of TEAM COP pose with their medals and trophy during their victory celebration at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan yesterday. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Team Coral Ocean Point made it to the podium of the 70th Philippine Airlines Interclub Golf Tournament held late last month in Davao, Philippines.

The Juan Pan Guerrero-captained Team COP competed in the Senior International class of one of the biggest golf tournaments in the Philippines and finished second among the 34 teams (in their division) that joined the Feb. 22 to 25 event held at the Apo Golf and Country Club and the Rancho Palos Verdes GC.

Team COP, which also has Nick Sablan, Juan SN Lizama, Alex Tudela, Frank Castro, Steve Balakrishna, Jung Eun Teack, Rick Kautz, James Nelson, and Norman Tenorio as members, collected 442 points in the two-round tournament to place second behind Fil-Am Hawaii (481) and beat Socal Redhawk (436) and 31 other squads from Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Guam, Canada, and different U.S. states.

“We’ve been competing in the PAL Interclub for the last nine years and this is our best finish so far,” said Guerrero, adding that Team COP made in to the Top 10 in the past contests.

“It was a tough tournament because the courses were very challenging, especially the Rancho Palos Verdes because of its slopes and hilly greens. The Apo course is a bit flatter, but there are many tricky holes,” Guerrero said in an interview with Saipan Tribune yesterday during the team’s victory celebration at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.

The Senior International division implemented a 4-man play, 3 count format, according to Guerrero, with Team COP players divided into C and D Flights. The Team COP captain gave extra credit to Tudela and Sablan for stepping up and helping their squad place second in the competition.

“They played very well on both days,” Guerrero said.

Each player was given points based on how they performed in the two courses. Tudela shot an 88 and 85 at the Rancho Palos and Apo, respectively, while Sablan had the best showing in the two-day contest with his 88 and 83.

Meanwhile, Guerrero said the team will still compete in the same event next year, while they will try to help other players (men’s division) on Saipan form a squad to see action in the PAL Interclub.

“We will continue to play and challenge each other here so we can keep ourselves fit and ready for next year’s tournament. TEAM COP members play every Sunday and we also join other local tournaments and some competitions in Guam,” the team skipper said.