LET’S GET IT ON – Nimrod’s time to shine

By Neil Bravo
We all have our first times.
First step. First word. First love. First kiss. Whatever, the first, as they say, never dies.
Let me add to that. The first is very hard to get. The first is never given up that easy nor served on a silver platter. Oftentimes, you got to bleed.
It was William Edward Hickson who was credited with the saying “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.”
That in mind, I recall some years back, I was on the same flight with my kumpadres Nimrod Quinonez when he was still sports editor of The Freeman, one of Cebu’s major dailies, and Al Mendoza of Business Mirror the first time we played Alta Vista for the PAL Interclub media golf tournament years back. Pareng Nim was struggling with his swing as he was obviously bothered by a slipped disc and a bad knee.
Sharing our misfortunes at the fairways, we both laughed our way to another bad day at the golf course.
Two years ago, we were back at Alta Vista for another PAL Interclub media golf tournament and this time Pareng Nim is at the helm of the course as manager. This time, he played the course with his familiarity advantage at the hilt. He was in contention after the Alta Vista round until he collapsed going into the Cebu Country Club round.
This year, my kumpadre finally tasted his first. How sweet it must be for my kumpadre. And it happened right in his own turf at Alta Vista. Brandishing a comfortable 28 handicap and a fully recovered back, Pareng Nim nailed down his first ever PAL Interclub media title besting Vancouver-based Rey Fortaleza and Davao pride Imee Garcia, the lone lady in the field.
I messaged him right away and congratulated him. “Sayang pre, wala ka ngari (It’s regrettable that you are not here),” he messaged back.
Yeah, pardon the pun but I missed your defloration, if that’s an appropriate term. You are no longer a golf ‘virgin’ as far as the PAL Interclub is concerned.
I am happy for Pareng Nim. He must have put a lot of work ethic in a year’s preparation to the Interclub. Congrats, too, to Pareng Al for a great ‘defensive’ work in the final day of the tournament. Perhaps, only the three of us, and another kumpadre, Jake Ayson, would understand this.
My first tournament win in any golf tournament has not come. Who knows it will come soon. Or maybe it will not come at all.
But I am a happy golf virgin for now.
We all have our firsts. Some are sweet.
Some bittersweet.
Just like Floyd Mayweather on May 2.
Postscripts: Listen to “Let’s Get It On with Neil Bravo” on 105.9 Balita FM every Saturday 8-10 a.m.