MARINE CORPS AIR STATIO IWAKUNI, Japan -- Four-man teams made of Marines and sailors faced-off at noon on a hilly green field speckled with random sand pits. Under a gray sky that threatened rain, the teams gathered on the field armed with steel golf clubs and pitted white balls ready to see who was the best.
The Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Family Readiness Office hosted a four-man golf-scramble tournament opened to station community members at the Torii Pines Golf Course here May 22.
The four-man team made up of Marc Regonini, Alex Corpuz, Dennis Snok, and Royal Nakanishi took 1st place in the tournament with a score of 17 under par.
Lou Genzer, the family readiness officer with H&HS, said the golf tournament was a good way for the competitors to get together and have a good time while getting to know their command element a little better during a barbeque at the end of the torunament.
The competitors were served hamburgers, hotdogs and drinks as a starting meal before they faced-off against each other on the green fields of Torii Pines Golf Course.
The sounds of Marines and sailors laughing and jeering each other was heard as they swung their golf clubs and watched their balls sailing through the air toward the green or sandy pits.
The competitors’ fun continued as the H&HS-hosted tournament wore on late into the afternoon.
Some of the tournament participants thought the H&HS FRO tournament was one of the best they ever took part in.
Marc Rigonini, a tournament participant, said H&HS put on an outstanding show with great food and a great venue all attracting good participation.
Approximately 50 station members participated in the tournament.
Rigonini said station golfers who didn’t participate in the tournament really missed out on what it had to offer.
In addition to the food H&HS FRO provided at the begining, competitors had another barbeque and live music waiting for them at the end of the competition.
The competitor’s families were invited to attend the event at the end of the tournament.
Large bouncing cages and face painting was provided for the children.
Genzer said they wanted to have an enjoyable tournament and a family day for both the competitors and their families.
“It’s all so they can have fun and enjoy their stay in Iwakuni,” said Genzer.
The tournament participants continued to play until the last hole with their family members and more fun waiting at the end.
The tournament came to a close with Rigonini and his team emerging as winners of the event.
Even though the fields of Torii Pines Golf Course were windy and the sun shone through the clouds only for a few minutes, some of the participating golfers left the field thinking one thing.
“A bad day of golf is better than a good day of work anytime,” said Robert Warmtir, a tournament participant.