Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. – Amateur golfer César Rodríguez emerged as the overall champion of the 18th Punta Blanca Golf Invitational Tournament, securing the Best Gross Score Overall with 149 strokes after two outstanding rounds on the acclaimed Nick Price-designed course.
This year’s edition was dedicated to golf legend and certified rules official César Rivera, a Dominican icon who has contributed to the sport for over four decades.
Rodríguez, who is a regular at Punta Blanca, credited his familiarity with the course for his victory:
“This is home for the AGLA, and I play here often in Punta Blanca, so I know its layout very well. The competition was tough, especially under such intense heat, but I managed to put together two strong rounds that ultimately led me to this win,” said Rodríguez upon receiving his trophy.
Honoring César Rivera
The heartfelt dedication to César Rivera, who celebrated his 95th birthday this week, was one of the highlights of the tournament. Rivera expressed gratitude to the organizers and his family for the gesture:
“I am deeply grateful to the club for this touching dedication. It has been a memorable weekend for me and my loved ones,” said Rivera, who is based in Puerto Rico but remains a respected figure in Dominican golf.
Tournament Highlights
- 120 players daily took part in the competition, held in Individual Stroke Play format.
- The event opened on Friday with a gala cocktail dinner, where Rivera received the official dedication plaque.
- The two competitive rounds were played Saturday and Sunday, ending with the awards ceremony at Majestic Resorts Punta Cana.
Category Winners
- Category A: Enrique Rodríguez (1st, -3), Franklin Sánchez (2nd, -2), Rodrigo Santana (3rd, +1)
- Category B: Sigfrido Veras (Gross, 159); Maiker Ramírez (Net 1st, -4), Héctor Alfaro (2nd, -2), Billy Santos (3rd, +1)
- Category C: Paul Shein (Gross, 175); Jesús Padilla (Net 1st, -4), Fernando de los Santos (2nd, -1), Gustavo Gimondo (3rd, +2)
- Senior A: Jorge Puente (Gross 156), followed by Freddy Sierra (-1), Jorge Reynoso (+1), and Bryan Byford (+2)
- Senior B: Eddy Cabreja (Gross 158); Andrés Moreno Carrasco (Net 1st, +8), Paul Scheer (2nd, +8), Teodoro Reyes (3rd, +9)
- Women’s Category: Cecilia Rosado (Gross Champion, 160), Kyung Kim (Net 1st, +4), Eneida Martínez (2nd, +6), Susan Schein (3rd, +37)
Special Awards
- Women: Eneida Martínez (Closest to the Pin, Hole 6), Juana Bodré (Most Accurate Drive, Hole 10), Susan Schein (Closest to the Pin, Hole 6 – R2), Cecilia Rosado (Longest Drive, Hole 12)
- Men: José Fontan (Closest to the Pin, Hole 13), Julio Pérez (Most Accurate Drive, Hole 4), Eddy Cabreja (Closest to the Pin, Hole 13 – R2), Casimiro Richiez (Longest Drive, Hole 9)
In addition to competitive play, the tournament featured over 120 raffle prizes and a festive closing filled with camaraderie, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most prestigious golf events in the Caribbean.
