BÁVARO, La Altagracia Province – Amateur golfer César Rodríguez became the top player of the 18th edition of the Punta Blanca Golf Club Invitational Tournament, an event dedicated this year to César Rivera, a national sports legend and certified rules official who has been part of Dominican golf for more than four decades.
Rodríguez won the Best Overall Gross Score with 149 strokes after two impeccable rounds of golf on the Nick Price-designed course. “This is the home of AGLA and I play here at Punta Blanca quite often, so its layout is very familiar to me. It was two days of tough competition under intense heat, but I managed to stay focused and put together two solid rounds that ultimately gave me the victory,” César said after the award ceremony.
For his part, César Rivera expressed his delight at being chosen as the honoree of the 2025 tournament. “Along with my family, I am grateful for this dedication from the club. Thanks to its president, Tedy García; general manager, Antonio Ramis; superintendent, Tomás Mercedes; and administrative director, Angelina Taveras. I have enjoyed an unforgettable weekend with my family. Thank you all for your kindness as always,” said the veteran Dominican resident in Puerto Rico, who this week is celebrating his 95th birthday.
The tournament hosted 120 players per day and was played in Individual Stroke Play format. Activities began on Friday with a grand cocktail and gala dinner, during which Don César was formally honored and received the commemorative plaque of the event with great emotion. The two rounds were played Saturday and Sunday, concluding with the awards ceremony at the Majestic Resorts event hall.
In addition to César Rodríguez, in Category A, Enrique Rodríguez (-3) took first place, followed by Franklin Sánchez (-2), with Rodrigo Santana (+1) in third. In Category B, Sigfrido Veras won the gross with 159. First net went to Maiker Ramírez (-4), second to Héctor Alfaro (-2), and third to Billy Santos (+1).
In Category C, Paul Shein won the gross with 175. First net was taken by Jesús Padilla (-4), second by Fernando de los Santos (-1), and third by Gustavo Gimondo (+2).
In Senior A, Jorge Puente dominated with 156, followed by Freddy Sierra (-1), Jorge Reynoso (+1), and Bryan Byford (+2). In Senior B, Eddy Cabreja won the gross with 158, and Andrés Moreno Carrasco took the net (+8), leaving second place to Paul Scheer (+8) and third to Teodoro Reyes (+9).
Among the ladies, Cecilia Rosado (160) was the gross champion, and Kyung Kim won first net (+4). Second place went to Eneida Martínez (+6) and third to Susan Schein (+37).
(*) Tie broken by scorecards.
For the ladies: in the first round, Eneida Martínez (closest to the pin, hole 6), and Juana Bodré (most accurate drive, hole 10). In the second round, Susan Schein won closest to the pin (H6), and the longest drive on hole 12 went to Cecilia Rosado de Nord.
For the gentlemen: in the first round, José Fontan (closest to the pin, hole 13), and Julio Pérez (most accurate drive, hole 4). In the second round, Eddy Cabreja won closest to the pin (hole 13), and Casimiro Richiez claimed the longest drive on hole 9.
The tournament featured more than 120 raffle prizes and a great atmosphere of camaraderie at the closing of the event.
Source: Fiebre de Golf Media
