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Tiebreak gives Kautz SGA November Ace
Rick Kautz bested John Lizama for the Saipan Golfers Association November Ace of the Month last Sunday held at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort’s east course.
Rick Kautz, standing third right, and the other members of the Saipan Golfers Association pose before teeing off in hole No. 1 of the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort’s east course for the November Ace of the Month last Sunday. (Jon Perez)
Kautz and Lizama ended up tied but the former secured the berth to the SGA’s yearend tournament after the scorecard tiebreak method.
Either way, Kautz would be the SGA November Ace since Lizama had already secured his spot for the yearend tournament after topping the June event.
The longtime CNMI businessman, who has a six handicap, had a slow start with a 6-over 42 at the front nine but bounced back with an even-par 36 for a 78 gross and a 72 net.
Lizama shot a pair of 44s at the front and back for a gross score of 88 and with a 16 handicap gave him that 72 to tie Kautz for first place.
Kautz, however, was named the SGA’s November Ace based on the group’s scorecard tiebreak method. He now joins 10 other SGA members that won the monthly honors.
CNMI Attorney General Ed Manibusan (January), John “Nanni” Cruz (February), Larry Deleon Guerrero (March), Jung Eun Teack (April), Alex Tudela (May), Lizama (June), Jess Castro (July), Nick Sablan (August), Frances Sablan (September), and Greg Sablan (October) are the other Ace of the Month winners.
Steve Balakrishna came in third behind a 41-41 round for an 82 gross and with an eight handicap finished two shots behind the co-leaders with a 74.
Tony Deleon Guerrero, Frank Castro, Nani Cruz, Larry Deleon Guerrero, Frances Sablan, Ed Sablan, and Jung finished from fourth to 10th place, respectively.
Manibusan was the longest drive winner in the 472-yard par-5 No. 3, while Kautz equaled the feat in the 412-yard par-4 No. 10.
Lizama led the closest to the pin winners in the par-3 No. 4, while John Lizama, Tony Deleon Guerrero, Jung, and Greg Sablan won it in No. 4, 6, 11, and 15, respectively.
The SGA December Ace of the Month is set on Dec. 13, Sunday, this time at the west course of the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort. Show time is at 9am while tee-off starts at 10am.
