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Am. Samoa’s Premier Memorial Golf Tournament honoring Tina Drabble a success

Local Junior Golf sensation and 2007 South Pacific Games Gold medalist Tina Drabble, who lost her six-year battle with cancer in July of last year, was remembered last Saturday during American Samoa’s Premier Annual Memorial Golf Tournament presented by the Tina Drabble Junior Golf Foundation.

 

The tournament was organized by Tina’s mother Chande with the support of the Fijian Community Association, and many family members and friends.

 

“Tina wanted to give back to the junior golf program that had given so much to her,” Chande told Samoa News earlier this month.

 

There were a total of 44 teams that made their way out to the Iliili Golf Course despite the constant drizzle and occasional rainy downpour throughout the day.

 

Gov. Lolo M. Moliga participated in one of the 44 two-man teams, with three teams in a group — which was the tournament format, which used the Calloway handicap system.

 

Thirteen of those teams came from Samoa, one from New Zealand and another came from Augusta, Georgia. Sporting bright yellow uniform shirts, the Brothers and Sisters teams from Upolu were in several of the winning categories.

 

“We have had a lot of support from different people and organizations to help out this great cause for the success of the tournament and I am so thankful for that,” said Chande. She stated that she is also thankful for the people who came from off island such as her former coach from New Mexico State University, Paul Brilliant, and her cousin Wendy from New Zealand.

 

 “No man is an island,” she stated. “There were a lot of helping hands here.”

 

Coach Brilliant spoke to the crowd about Tina’s accomplishment and said directly to the young golfers in attendance that if they go through with hard work and effort such as Tina put forward, they could also be successful in the sport of golf.

 

“It is very important that you guys support this resurrection of junior golf here in American Samoa,” said Brilliant. He also stated that it is great to have a pipeline here on island to keep watch on the young players. “Tina had a big impact on a lot of people, not only here in American Samoa, but in the United States as well,” he said

 

Also on hand last Saturday were members from the local Fijian Community Association, who had some of their young members entertain with a performance of the “Meke’, which is a traditional Fijian communal dance.

 

Contributors to the American Samoa Premier Annual Memorial Golf Tournament presented by the Tina Drabble Junior Golf Foundation included Polynesian Airlines, Inter Island Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Vailima distributed exclusively by GHC Reid, Co. Ltd., Bluesky, Transpac and a host of other companies and groups that donated prizes, food and drinks to make the event a successful endeavor.

 

List of the winners: (top three)

 

Team (Net) score:

 

Velega & Lia: 137

 

S&T Scott & Tagaloa: 137

 

DOC #2-Kenape & Keneti: 142

 

Team (Gross) score:

 

Brother & Sister Golf-Bob Manase Maifea & Iasone: 140

 

Sweet Restaurant-Samoa & Makaio: 145

 

Brother & Sister Golf-Opeta & Tuloma: 151

 

Individual (Net) score men:

 

Sao Lua: 66

 

Toleafo Dr. Viale Lameko:  67

 

Tagaloa: 67

 

Individual (Gross) men:

 

Bob Manase Maifea: 68

 

Sa: 69

 

Lia: 72

 

Individual (Net) women:

 

Mesepi: 63

 

Raina: 72

 

Ana: 74

 

Individual (Gross) women:

 

Olive: 71

 

Ileen: 80

 

Leleaga: 83