NGCB tops challenge

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The National, Monday 3rd June 2013

 By KYMLIE KARANI

A TOTAL of K160,000 was raised from the Prime Minister’s Corporate Golf Challenge last Friday for Team PNG athletes for the Mini Pacific Games in September. 

This year recorded a huge number of teams that participated in the annual challenge with 52 teams teeing off at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club.

“The response this year was very good. It was unfortunate that we had to turn down business houses that still wanted to register because we had already gone past the mark. 

“However, we are extremely grateful for the overwhelming support from the corporate sector,” PNGSFOC secretary-general Auvita Rapilla said.

This year’s winner for the Port Moresby event was National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) – which consisted of SP Export PNG Open male amateur champion Soti Dingi, Nick Kuman, Morris Bai and Esta Jouma – hit an outstanding score of 7 under par with a total of 61 points to take home the 2013 Prime Minister’s Corporate Golf Cup.

Runners-up were Mirupasi Lawyers while Citi Service Apartments and Motel came in third place.

Last year’s winners, DJ Wheels finished fifth with a score of 66.

The event was PNG Sports Federation and Olympic Committee’s (PNGSFOC) fund-raiser to raise funds for Team PNG’s participation at the upcoming Mini-Pacific Games in Wallis and Futuna from Sept 2-12.

The challenge will go to Lae on July 14 as PNGSFOC’s final fundraising event.

President of PNGSFOC Sir John Dawanincura said the federation’s K2.8 million budget for sending a full contingent to the Games was nearing its target.

A total of K774,000 was raised from the Trukai Fun Run Auctions, K160,000 from the Port Moresby PM’s Corporate Golf and K1.3 million from the government funding.

The highlight of the event was the participation of the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, who was on the course for the whole day.

“It is wonderful to see all the corporate bodies taking their time off from their busy schedules to take part in this event to help raise funds for a worthy cause,” O’Neill said.

“The government is putting a lot of effort and commitment for the 2015 Pacific Games which we will be hosting and golf is one sport the government is working closely with PNGSFOC to make sure we are at the top come 2015,” O’Neill added.