Page 5 - CMB

LOCAL SPORTS Friday 8 december 2017
A17

Aruba Cup Countdown: Johnny Ruiz

Up-and-coming Californian produced breakthrough season in 2017

By BRIAN DECKER
(PGATOUR.COM)
ORANJESTAD - Johnny Ruiz
made enormous strides as
a professional in 2017, go-
ing from unheralded and
untested to unquestionably
competitive as one of the
best players on the Mack-
enzie Tour - PGA TOUR
Canada. After a heart-
breaking near-miss at the
Golf BC Championship,
where a 72nd hole bogey
cost him a chance at a
playoff with Robby Shelton,
Ruiz rebounded quickly
and won two starts later at
the Staal Foundation Open
presented by Tbaytel. Add-
ing a playoff runner-up at
the Ontario Championship
hosted by National Pines
Golf Club, Ruiz went on to
finish third on the Order of
Merit to secure Web.com
Tour status for the 2017 sea- Johnny Ruiz took a huge step forward in his professional career with an outstanding 2017 season
son. (Claus Andersen/PGA TOUR)
returned strong this year, most par-4s. Only one play- Canyon Golf and Country with a closing birdie to take
The following is a back- getting off to a hot start er made more eagles than Club, leading to a bogey the lead for good.
ground on Ruiz and an out- to the year that earned Ruiz in 2017. that left him one shot out Don’t miss the action as
look for his performance at him an exemption into the -Top 10s: 5 of a playoff. He quickly re- The Mackenzie Tour – PGA
the Aruba Cup. PGA TOUR’s RBC Canadian -Top 25s: 7 sponded two starts later at TOUR Canada faces off
BACKGROUND: After opt- Open. Ruiz did not begin -Cuts made: 10/11 the Staal Foundation Open against the PGA TOUR Lati-
ing to turn pro after high playing golf until age 14 -Scoring Average: 68.62 presented by Tbaytel, how- noamérica in a Presidents
school, Ruiz slowly but surely and notched his first pro TOP MOMENT OF 2017: Ruiz ever, closing with a 5-un- Cup-style event at Tierra
made progress as a profes- win at the 2016 Monterey suffered a heartbreaking der 67 that launched him del Sol Resort and Golf in
sional and eventually tried Open. BY THE NUMBERS: loss at the Golf BC Cham- ahead of the faltering lead- Aruba, December 11-16,
his hand on the Mackenzie Ruiz’s outstanding tee-to- pionship when his drive at ers and into the winner’s 2017. The three competi-
Tour in 2015, ultimately miss- green game, especially the 72nd hole found an un- circle. Ruiz’s triumphant tion days will feature four-
ing the cut in all four of his off the tee and with long fortunate spot up against a moment came at the par-5 ball, foursome and singles
starts. He took the 2016 sea- irons, makes him a birdie or tree that sits in the middle of 18th, where he redeemed matches on December 14,
son to re-tool his game and eagle threat on par-5s and the fairway at Gallagher’s his late bogey in Kelowna 15 and 16, respectively.q
Aruba Bank Lady Tigers are 2017 HEINEKEN Softball Champions

POS CHIKITO – Last Sun- stayed close until the end
day in the HEINEKEN Soft- with 5runs, 6 hits, although
ball Championship in a 2 error, the were costly and
dramatic final game the added runs to Aruba Bank’s
Aruba Bank Tigers slid past account. Rudlyn Ras was
the Vitamin Water Jaguars, named MVP because her
6-5, to win the 2017 Softball command on the mound
Championship. when it was needed.
Kathleen Emerenciana, the
The five-game series saw starting pitcher held her
neither team give in. own and was relieved by
The Lady Tigers opened Melissah Daniel, who in end
the scoring with 1-0 and of the game as the losing
for the next six innings the pitcher. Nikkaela Jacobs
score see-sawed back- of Tigers went 2-3, Jennifer
and-forth to a 5-5 tie on the Chirino 2-4, Rudlyn Ras was
scoreboard. In the seventh 1-2 at the plate. Jennifer
shortstop Meraly Kootes Chirino regained her bat-
broke the game open by ting title with average of
sliding safely over home .625. For the Jags Jenysella
plate to give the lady Tigers Tromp went for 2 hits on 3
the lead for good. attempts. Riangela Flane-
In the end Aruba Bank had gin took the home run title
6 runs on 7 hits and 4 errors, with 2 homers.
meanwhile Vitamin Water It was a great series.q