•  The eighteenth edition of the golf tournament was held at the Playa Dorada Golf Course in Puerto Plata.
• More than 110 players competed in the pairs scramble tournament.

PUERTO PLATA.- With their 63 strokes, Ramsés Peguero and Denny Ureña were proclaimed winners of the 18th edition of the 2023 North Regional Golf Tournament of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AMCHAMDR), held within the framework of the institution's centenary, on Saturday, August 12 at the Playa Dorada Golf Course, from Puerto Plata.

The tournament began early in the morning in categories A, B, and C. After the national anthem, Román Medina, director of the Puerto Plata Provincial Committee, addressed those present and highlighted the sporting spirit of the competition, which brings together AMCHAMDR members from the northern region and the opportunity this event represents for members from the interior of the country.

“It is a source of great satisfaction to have you back in Puerto Plata, after having hosted this tournament for the first time in 2019. We welcome you to a Puerto Plata that has undergone a remarkable transformation, with various tourism, real estate, and infrastructure projects underway and in the planning stages.”

The more than 110 participants began the day at 9:00 a.m. to compete in a competition marked by an atmosphere of integration and healthy sportsmanship. Fernando Villanueva, a member of the AMCHAMDR Board of Directors, was in charge of the kickoff. By 3:00 p.m., the players had completed all 18 holes of the course and were then welcomed back for lunch and the awards ceremony.

María Waleska Álvarez, vice president of the AMCHAMDR Executive Committee, was present at the sporting event and highlighted the success of this edition of the Regional Tournament organized by the American Chamber of Commerce.

“Thanks to the enthusiastic participation of more than 110 players, the golf tournament was a resounding success and a testament to the spirit of sportsmanship and collaboration that characterizes our business and sports community,” he noted.

The tournament's opening ceremony also featured the participation of former AMCHAMDR President Ramón Ortega. Also in attendance were members of the Puerto Plata Provincial Committee: George Morales, Juan Yamil Musa, Fernando Ortega, and Maria Isabel Cáceres.

He Playa Dorada Golf Course, a course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., which has been listed by Golf Digest magazine as one of the 100 best courses outside the United States.

The winners

Ramsés Peguero and Denny Ureña took first place gross in Category A with a final score of 63. First place net in the same category went to Pedro Estévez and Eligio Cerda with 58 strokes, and second place net went to Juan Cestero and Fabio Balbuena with 62 strokes net.

In Category B, golfers José Clase and Polon Salcedo took first place gross with 70 strokes. Fernando Villanueva and Ramón Ortega took first place net with 65 strokes, followed by Manuel Ramas and Jesús Pantoja, also with 65 strokes, in second place net.

In Category C, Christopher Portelli and Ganesan Ponnambalam took first place with a total of 70 gross strokes. They were followed by Anthony Jiminián and Nelo M. Bonilla with 66 strokes for the first net, and Pedro M. Tejada and Nelson Michel in second place in the category with 67 strokes.

Among the special awards, the winners were Fabio Balbuena in the “Longest Drive,” with 318 yards, and Aquiles Colombo in the “Closest to the Pin,” with five feet.

The award ceremony took place in Playa Dorada Golf Course, Puerto Plata, where the luncheon was also held, attended by players and guests. Gifts were also raffled off among participants, courtesy of the sponsoring brands.

William Malamud, executive vice president of AMCHAMDR, offered a few words of thanks to the players and associates in attendance.

Sponsors and collaborators

In the exclusive AMCHAMDR Elite Circle category, the 2023 Northern Regional Golf Tournament was sponsored by: AES Dominicana, Barrick Pueblo Viejo, Dominican National Brewery, Citi, HIT Puerto Río Haina, Grupo Humano, Inicia, Grupo Martí, Altice Dominicana, Grupo Rica, Grupo SID, Grupo Punta Cana, Grupo Estrella and Squire Patton Boggs.

In the Platinum category are: Banreservas, BHD, DP World, Viamar, Lincoln, and Santo Domingo Motors.

The “Gold” category is made up of: Bermudez, Brugal, Edge, Gerdau Metaldom, IMCA, La Monumental de Seguros and Swisher.

In the "Silver" category, the event had the support of ACAP, Baldom, Bepensa, Blue Jacktar Hotel & Golf, Café Santo Domingo, Cardnet, Cementos Cibao, Cerveceria Vegana, Corporacion Zona Franca Santiago, Cortés Hermanos, Hodelpa, Licormart, Lifestyle Holidays, Manuel Arsenio Ureña, Procigar, Russin Vechi Heredia and Bonetti and Titos Vodka.

About the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AMCHAMDR)

The American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AMCHAMDR) is a non-profit association legally incorporated on November 8, 1923, that fosters a healthy investment climate based on access to knowledge, opportunities, and a culture of best practices for the socioeconomic and professional development of its members. AMCHAMDR is affiliated with the US Chamber of Commerce and is a founding member of the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA).