18-year-olds top 20th Annual NMC Golf tourney

Two 18-year-old golfers shut down veteran players in their respective divisions in the Northern Marianas College Foundation’s 20th Golf Open last weekend at the LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort.

In the competitive Championship Flight, Guam’s Stussy Shiroma drove his way to first place with the lowest total score from the two-day tournament of 147. On Day 1, he tallied an even par 36 in the front nine, while he picked up a one-over 37 in the back nine for a one-over 73. As for Day 2, he completed the front nine and back nine with a pair of 37s for a two-over 74.

Second to Shiroma was another junior golfer, the CNMI’s Zhi Li with a total of 148, while third was two-time defending champion Dominique Kieffer at 154.

Shiroma, who won the A Flight when he competed in the same tournament in 2022, said he wanted to compete again this year. With his first-place win again, he said the course this year was “good. It was pretty tough conditions but I managed to fight and win it.” His best hole, he said, was No. 5 where he shot an eagle in a par 5.

The competition this year, he said, “was very, very good. The other junior from Saipan, [Zhi Yi] is pretty good. He gave me a good run for my money, but I got to come out on top.”

When asked about how the competition here compared to Guam was, he said, “I think the competition here is a lot better. Better golfers here. No offense to Guam golfers because there are a lot of good Guam golfers but there’s more Saipan golfers that are better.”

In the Ladies Flight, first place went to the CNMI’s Zhi Min Jin—who also won the event last year. She recorded a final total of 156 from a Day 1 total of 75 and a Day 2 score of 81. The Marianas High School senior accumulated 39 in the front nine and 36 in the back nine on Day 1, while she hit a 39 in the front nine and 42 in the back nine on Day 2.

Second to Jin was Guam’s Hyranie McAuslen with a final score of 156,and third went to Teresita Blair who also totaled 165.

Jin, who celebrated her birthday on the greens during the first day of the tournament, said she made her best strokes then. On the first day, she said, “I played east course. I really loved it. The greens were amazing and I love how there wasn’t much wind.” On the second day, however, she said the conditions were “okay but the greens were kind of bumpy and it was really inconsistent.”

Her best hole, said the upcoming Boston College student, was an eagle in hole No. 2 on a par 5. With her back-to-back championship, she said, “It wasn’t expected. I haven’t been playing golf and there were like 12 Guam players and I heard they were good. So, I’m happy I was able to play with some of them and I feel grateful that I was able to win again.”

In other results, first place in the A Flight was Stephen Gatewood at a total of 154; second was Kiwan “Michael” Nam at 163; and Peng Cheng Wu at 164.

As for the B Flight, Keith Kintol was first with 166, while second and third place Gerald Guerrero and Arvin Ogo both scored a 167.

In the C Flight, first place went to Jung Ho Lee at 163; second and third at 168 each was Chang Fan Cao and Kyle Hofschneider.

Joseph Sasamoto topped the Senior Flight at 149; second was his cousin Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho at 151; and third went to Mike Castro at 154.

And in the Super Seniors Flight, first place was Joseph Sablan at 161; second was Tony Satur at 169; and third was Richard Sablan with 170.

First place winners in the Championship, A, B, C, Senior, and Ladies Flights received $800, second place finishers received $500, and third place finishers pocketed $300.

Before the announcement of the winners, a raffle was held, and a photo of one of NMC’s newest buildings that is still under construction was unveiled.

NMC president Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, in his remarks said, “Today, I see nothing but good news. It’s the good news of your support from golfers like you, it’s the good news of donors and sponsors, and it’s the good news of a great team of volunteers.” He added, “There’s also good news at NMC, because at NMC, we’re building new facilities, we’re building new programs, we’re building new hope for the CNMI.

Another good news, he said, are the students, employees, and graduates “who are doing everything they can to develop the workforce, help the economy recover, and help lives through education.”

A total of 200 golfers competed with a majority of them from the CNMI, while there were 32 players from Guam and some players from South Korea and Kazakhstan.