Saturday, July 4, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Two of Hawaii’s top junior golfers, ranked second and sixth in the American Junior Golf Association Polo Rankings, finished in the top two spots at the Rebath Heather Farr Classic in Mesa, Arizona.
Former Big Island resident Kimberly Kim, who moved with her mother to Arizona to be closer to the fierce mainland competition and the events she needs to hone her golfing skills, shot a final round 3 under 68 to finish first with a 54 hole total of 209. She is currently listed 6th in the Girls rankings found in Golfweek magazine.
Punahou senior Stephanie Kono, ranked second in the AJGA Polo Rankings, shared second place with second round leader Rachel Morris of Carlsbad, California and Taylore Karle of Scottsdale, Arizona.
The ninth annual American Junior Golf Association tournament featured 42 girls, ages 12 to 18, from 17 states, Canada, the Cayman Islands and Mexico.
After finishing her final round, Kim said her front nine probably could have been better. “I wasn’t thinking straight to start the day. It took me until the back nine to realize I was using yesterday’s hole location sheet. After I made that switch, I was good to go.”
In the boys division, former Honolulu resident Chan Kim, who also moved to the mainland for the intense competition and experience on mainland golf courses, finished in a tie for 26th.
Maui’s Elyse Okada finished in a tie for 18th at the Ping Junior in Woodlands, Texas and Honolulu’s Kristina Merkle finished 40th at the Mizuno Junior, shortened because of morning frost on the final day, in Braselton Georgia. But wait, there is a lot more to come from Merkle!
CYD OKINO, MKI UEOKA, SUMMER MIZUSAWA
Lihue’s Miki Ueoka and Hilo’s Summer Mizusawa qualified for the 31st annual U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Link’s Championship by shooting a pair of 76’s at the Wailua Golf Course on Kauai last month. The co-medalists will be playing in the national USGA event in Lexington Kentucky from June 18 to the 23rd. The first alternate is Cyd Okino, who finished one stroke back at 77. Lihue’s Kelli Oride is the second alternate.
Cyd Okino, an eighth grader at Kaimuki Middle School with a grown up golf swing, shot 7 over 79 in Monday qualifying for the 2006 Michelob Ultra Open in Kingsmill, Virginia. Okino was given a qualifying round exemption but she didn’t make it into the event.
KUMA CONTRACTING KONA OPEN
Professional Jarett Hamamoto from Hilo shot rounds of 72-70 (142) to claim the title with a 2 under par score. That’s a $4,000 dollar payday out of the $15,000 dollar purse.
Thanks to Lee Hardy for the photos of the winners.
Left to right: Mike Yukon, General Manager of Kona Country Club, Peggy Ciriako,
Tournament Coordinator, and the 2007 Kuma Contracting Kona Open champion
Jarett Hamamoto.
HAWAII STATE GIRLS AND BOYS HIGH SCHOOL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
A very exciting finish to the David S. Ishii Foundation HHSAA Girls Golf Championship the second week in May. Punahou’s Anna Jang and Maui High’s Kelcie Kawano took it to a playoff in very windy conditions at Waikoloa on the Big Island. Jang won the individual title with her par on the first extra hole, which also moved the Punahou team into first place followed by Waiakea. In best of four scores, Punahou shot 495, Waiakea 503 and Maui High 515. Kawano said the wind was blowing so hard, “you couldn’t stand up straight for more than a couple of seconds sometimes”.
On the Boys Golf Champions the week after the girls played at Waikoloa, Sean Maekawa and his Kamehameha High School team top home top honors and the title. Maekawa is Honoka’a’s first state golf champion. His final round, a 4-under-par 68, was four strokes lower than T.J. Kua, a junior who has placed second once before, two years ago. Maekawa was second last year to Kaimuki’s Chan Kim.
Maekawa says he has a list of tournaments he’s wanted to win hanging on his wall. This is the first with 11 or 12 to go. It’s good to have goals! Maekawa’s advice? You’ve got to relax and let everything come to you. “I try to put my thoughts into that one shot I’m about to hit. Get it in the fairway, and do the same thing again. Get on the green and same thing for the putt. It’s grueling. Your body wants to rest but you’ve got to fight to the end.
Kua is the nephew of David Ishii.
HAWAII TEENAGERS RANK IN GOLFWEEK
Punahou’s Stephanie Kono didn’t compete this year in high school golf because of other commitments. Two other top Hawaii teenagers, Sacred Hearts Ayaka Kaneko and Moanalua’s Kristina Merkle, also had other commitments. Kono played in two American Junior golf Association tournaments in Arizona and is ranked 3rd in the U.S. by Golfweek Sagarin Performance Index in it’s Girls section. Kimberly Kim is ranked 6th in the country by Golfweek. Kaneko played in Japan women’s tour event where she made the cut. She also tried to qualify into two LPGA tournaments. Merkle went on a seven day trip to play in the Mizuno Juniors in Atlanta, Georgia.
On the Japan Tour, at the Crowns in Japan, Hawaii junior golf star Tadd Fujikawa, ranked 15th in the Boys Golfweek Sagarin Performance Index, managed a terrific round of 74 on the second day but still missed the cut by two strokes.
Hawaii’s Gregory Meyer made the cut and went on to finish tied for 46th.
JENNIE K. WILSON INVITATIONAL AT MID PACIFIC COUNTRY CLUB
The defending champion from 2006 did it again in 2007, only better. Moanalua’s Kristina Merkle won the Jennie K. this year by 13 strokes.
The first round leader and closest competitor for Merkle, Jaclyn Hilea, had one of those days every golfer dreads.
It wasn’t that long ago that Merkle had one of those “those days” a golfer dreads. She found herself three- and four-putting around the greens at Ko Olina. It was just a couple weeks ago, at the U.S. Women’s Open qualifying at Ko Olina. Merkle was chasing that little white ball all across the greens but not during the Jennie K.
Merkle was one of my guests on “The Golf Club” Saturday morning, May 19th, along with about 9 other players from many different flights. If you’d like to take a listen, just log onto http://www.radiogolfclub.com/ and go to the listen button. From there, scroll down the page to the date you’d like to hear.
I asked Merkle what her game plan was after finding herself in second, just one shot before the leader, Hilea. Her answer, “keep on doing what I have been doing.”
Anna Jang, also playing in the Jennie K. after winning the HHSAA Girls Championship, but she didn’t open with the kind of day she wanted, tied for 20th with an 86, pretty much the bottom of the Championship flight. Jang told me she was trying too hard and wanted to relax into her game. That is so important so you don’t tighten up and ruin your timing and ultimately your score. Her strategy worked. Jang followed that 86 with a 71 and a 76, finishing in 4th place. Here are your top finishers:
Championship Flight
Kristina Merkle, Nicole Sakamoto (A Flight), Xyra Suyetsugu (UH golf team), Anna Jang, Desiree Ting (Central Pacific Bank), Hayley Young, Jaclyn Hilea (HSWGA Stroke Play Champion headed for college on a golf scholarship), Lesly Ann Komoda (Mid Pacific Country Club), Bobbi Koxx (multiple Jennie K. winner and former UH golf team coach) Suzzan Dobkin, Traci Kashiwabara and Nancy Shot.
A Flight
Bev Kim, Keiki-Dawn Izumi, loma Nishihara
B Flight
Yun Manin, Bobbi Femia
C Flight
Incha Baughman, Yoshiko Hiraoka
D Flight
Cathy Kobayashi, Bernic Hiraoka
E Flight
Perla Black, Kimi Komatsu
In addition to Kristina Merkle, you can hear from Bobbi Koxx, Kaili Britos, Lesly Ann Komoda, Mimi Fukushima, Desiree Ting, Marissa Chow, Anna Jang, and Cathy Kobayashi.
Kobayashi is an 83 year old woman who, as she put it last year on “The Golf Club”, “God willing, I’ll be back again next year.” She's the defending champion in her flight after this years competition. We look forward to her next year.
It’s also great to see Koxx, Komoda and Ting representing the 20 and 30 something’s against Hawaii’s great junior golfers.
I want to thank both MPCC head professional Mark Souza, PGA, and Jennie K. Wilson tournament chair Jean Hashimoto, without whom I couldn’t have pulled off such a great show with so many wonderful guests.
U.S. OPEN AT OAKMONT LOCAL QUALIFYING
Back in Hawaii for the U.S Open at Oakmont local qualifiers, Tadd Fujikawa, ranked 15th on the Golfweek Sagarin Performance Rankings Boys division, was the winner at the Turtle Bay Fazio course Oahu qualifier. He’ll still have to go to the mainland to compete in a sectional qualifier since the sectional is no longer available to golfers in Hawaii. Just not enough signed up to make it worth the time the United States Golf Association has to put into each regional event prior to the Open, which will be at Oakmont this June.
Fujikawa beat out Parker McLaughlin, Kevin Hayashi, Pierre Henri Soero and other great Hawaii golfers for that one spot. The 2 alternates are Shunsuke Sonoda (a) from Japan and Naoya Takemoto of Rancho Mirage, California.
The winners at the 3 other local qualifiers:
From Maui at Makena, where the largest number of golfers, 28, signed up for qualifying, Alex Ching (a) from Honolulu and Dugal Milne from Makena Golf Course, qualified to go to the Sectional of their choice on the mainland. The 2 alternates are TJ Figueroa from Kahului, Maui and Bryce Iwasaki (a) from Wailuku, Maui.
From the Big Island, at Waikoloa Kings Course, Alva Wendland of Hilo is the qualifier. The 2 alternates are Mark Morrison of Holualoa and Sean Maekawa of Paauilo.
From Kauai, held at the Poipu Bay Golf Course, Mark Scheibach of Bermuda Dunes won. Scheibach is relocating to Hawaii. The 2 alternates are James Kawaihalau (a) of Lihue and Eric Gibbs (a) of Fort Smith, Arkansas.
PARKER MCLAUGHLIN UPDATE
Parker McLaughlin was in Hawaii for the U.S. Open qualifier on a Saturday so he could get to the AT&T Classic to get down to work for the whole week. McLaughlin wanted plenty of practice time because the next two events are scheduled limited field and not open to rookies. Asked what he thought of the limited field events, McLaughlin said simply that he’d like to play but he knows he’s a rookie and he doesn’t get the perks yet.
The work paid off. After a final round of 66, Honolulu’s Parker McLaughlin moved from 145th to 124th in the PGA Tour Fed Ex Cup standings. The top 144 got into the Fed Ex Cup playoffs. Kaneohe’s Dean Wilson is 65th in the Fed Ex Cup standings.
MID PACIFIC OPEN AT MID PACIFIC COUNTRY CLUB
Great golf at the Mid Pacific Open this year, as usual, with conditions one golfer called “just like playing in Scotland.”
That comment from this year’s winner, Darren Summers, who worked at Kapalua for a time but who originally hails from Scotland. It was a windy, dry weekend on the Windward side at Mid Pacific Country Club and Summers took home the first place check of $10 thousand. That win didn’t come easy. He had to get through Kevin Hayashi in a playoff. Hayashi, who has yet to win the Mid Pac Open even though he has been the Aloha Section Player of the Year a couple of years, now is the man with the most second place finishes in the Mid Pac Open. Summers managed a par putt for the win on the second playoff hole. Rounding out the top three was defending champion David Ishii and Chad Saladin.
In the amateur division, recent Masters participant Casey Watabu of Kauai took the top spot. MPCC member Paul Kimura was the runner up and Punahou’s Bradley Shigezawa was third.
Joe P. is a golf instructor at Mid Pacific. You don’t have to be a member to take lessons from him and he is a lot of fun to be with. The only reason you see him listening right now, and not talking, is Watabu’s story. Watabu was talking about what it was like playing at the Masters in Augusta. You can hear the show at http://www.radiogolfclub.com/. Press the listen button and go down to archive and the list should appear. If you have trouble getting there, contact me through this site and I’ll get right on it!
Hal Okita, wearing the hat of a rules official for the 2007 Mid Pacific Open “on the air” at the Mid Pac Open 2007. We should be hearing soon on just who gets the new full time position of Executive Director of the Hawaii State Golf Association. Okita was looking for interested applicants.
Kevin Karll, one of Hawaii’s top professional golfers, teaches young and old at Turtle Bay Resort, telling us about his strategy for the weekend at the 2007 Mid Pacific Open.
Casey Nakama, one of our old timers who isn’t old, founded the Casey Nakama Golf Development Center at Olomana Golf Course. If you want to know who the next up and coming golfer is, check out his center. Michelle Wie, among many of our great junior golfers, got their start with Nakama. Nakama says keep an eye on Bradley Shigezawa as the next up and comer.
Lance Suzuki, a seven-time winner of the Mid Pacific Open, is teaching at the Golf Development Center at Olomana. I’d like to be a junior golfer just to take lessons with Suzuki, who says he really prefers teaching juniors because they haven’t developed the bad habits adults have and then don’t want to give up!
Regan Lee, another Mid Pac Open winner, is teaching at the Pearl Country Club. He has the competitive experience to share with you if you’d like to take up competition yourself. Get out and take a lesson.
Barry Toyama, Tactical Strength and Conditioning, was on the show during the Mid Pacific Open. He offers complimentary evaluations for golfers including strength, balance, flexibility, movement and muscle imbalance screening. Call 589-2115 for an appointment but make sure he doesn’t have a busy schedule on your day so you get the one on one attention you want.
David Sosner, General Manager, Mid Pacific Country Club.
David Sosner, General Manager, Mid Pacific Country Club, I just want to thank you and the members at the country club for providing your course for the many great events played at Mid Pacific including your annual May fundraiser, which this year is benefiting the First Tee of Oahu, soon to be the First Tee of Hawaii.
Superintendent Jason Amoy couldn’t be found for his picture taking during the Mid Pacific Open or the Jennie K.
Seems there were a lot of people looking for him, some of them wanting to know exactly what kind of a test he was putting them through with the excellent conditions including the fastest greens and the most difficult pin positions they’ve seen in a long time. Good job done by all of the folks who not only volunteered their time but keep Mid Pacific in great shape all year. There are many different kinds of memberships, including a golfers membership, you may want to check into.
MICHELLE WIE UPDATE
After spending a couple of days in Honolulu getting to meet her fans at NikeTown, Michelle Wie will be back out on the golf course competing in a major way this summer. She is playing in the McDonald’s LPGA Championship in Bulle Rock Golf Course right after her first her first LPGA event this year at the Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika. Wie hasn’t played in LPGA competition since injuring her wrist shortly after the 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii. Wie has earned her spot at the McDonalds after her tie for fifth last year. Sorenstam won’t be back in action until the U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles in North Carolina assuming her therapy with the ruptured disk in her neck and the bulging disk in her mid back is going well.
Looks like Wie will be playing against Morgan Pressel in the Canadian Women’s Open. Pressel, the LPGA’s newest star and the youngest player to capture an LPGA major when she won the Kraft Nabisco Championship, confirmed she’ll play at the 2007 CN Canadian Women’s Open the second week in August in Edmonton. Wie has accepted an invite to play there before heading for Europe to play in the Evian Masters and the British Women’s Open.
One invitation that isn’t sitting well with some members of the LPGA is the invite she has accepted to play in the Samsung World Championship at Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, California this October. She’ll celebrate her birthday at the start of the limited field tournament, just like she did when she made her professional debut at the Samsung in 2005. Only 20 golfers are invited.
Brittany Lincicome said “People aren’t very happy. It’s tough to accept. We’re out here working our butts off to get a spot in that tournament and it’s just handed to her. She hasn’t even been playing. Yeah, a lot of people aren’t very happy about it, but what can you do?”
If Wie does for the LPGA purses what Tiger Woods did for the PGA, a lot of people will be very happy! Only her game will tell.
LEADBETTER DIDN’T KNOW THE SCORE
In May, we got a startling statement from Michelle Wie’s swing coach. David Leadbetter told the media Wie has decided to concentrate solely on LPGA events and not play against men. While a representative for Wie’s management agency said that wasn’t the case, I decided to telephone father B.J. Wie to find out what really is going on. B.J. told me Michelle is considering accepting the invitation she has received to play in the John Deere Classic but that she hasn’t made up her mind yet. Asked why Mr. Leadbetter would make such a statement considering the invite, B.J. said probably because Leadbetter didn’t know about the invitation.
What ever her decision, good for her. She’s living her dream out and won’t ever have to say, “Gee, if only I’d….what could have been…?”
The day I finished writing the column for the June publication, Miehelle Wie accepted the invitation to play in the John Deere classic, something she says she is really looking forward to.
LONG DRIVE CONTEST
If you’re long on your drives and don’t particularly care for your short game, the 2007 RE/MAX World Long Drive event is right up your alley. The local qualifying is at Olomana Golf Course June 16 and July 21st at 4 pm. It’s $40 for six golf balls in the Open and Senior divisions. The Super Senior, Grand Champion and Women’s divisions is $30 for six golf balls. Good luck!
BIG ISLAND CANDIES SCOTCH 4-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Aloha Section PGA announces the FINAL results of the 2007 Aloha Section PGA Big Island Candies Scotch 4-Ball Championship played at the Jack Nicklaus designed course, The Club at Hokuli’a on the Big Island on April 1-2, 2007. The Competition is a 36-hole stroke play team event. 21 teams of 42 island professionals played for a $12,000 purse.
Mark Morrison of Swing & Play the Easy Way and Kyle Herzberg of Makalei Golf Club shot a 4-under par 68 in the final round alternate shot format to go with a best ball 71 in the first round for a total 5-under par 139 to capture the title. First round leaders Matt Pakkala of Mililani GC and Kirk Nelson of Makena GC came in second with a two-day total 1-under par 143 (67-76). The Castillo brothers, Michael of Princeville and Ron Jr. came in third at even-par 144 (70-74). Defending champions Kevin Hayashi and Lance Taketa (70-75) were tied for fourth at 145 along with Andrew Feldmann and Larry Stubblefield (70-75).
The Scotch 4-Ball Championship is the first major tournament of 2007 earning the winning team $3,500 as well as valuable points towards Governor’s Cup selection and Section PGA Player of the Year. This is normally a member-only event, and in an effort to increase participation, the Section allowed apprentices in good standing to participate this year.
The Club at Hokuli’a is an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus design that plays to 7,335 yards, par 72. Special thanks to our title sponsor Big Island Candies, Inc. Big Island Candies was established in 1977 to manufacture and market fine quality macadamia nut candies and cookies. All products are made at the company’s Hilo headquarters.
Thank you to the Aloha Section for writing this section and the photos. If you’d like more information on the results, check out the Aloha Section PGA website: http://www.aloha.pga.com/ .
CASEY WATABU, TO PLAY FOR PAY OR NOT?
Great story at USGA.org on Casey Watabu and his decision not to turn pro. You can read it at www.usga.org/news/2007/may/watabu.html
Casey Watabu was great talking with on “The Golf Club” during the Mid Pacific Open. I asked him about waiting to turn pro and he said why not! He might as well take advantage of all of the great amateur events he can play while he in college and turn pro after all of his amateur options have run out. As he put it, on our April 21st show, http://www.radiogolfclub.com/, “I’m young and have plenty of time. It’s my passion and I plan to pursue it.” 23 year Watabu, a biology major, beat the 2005 USA Walker Cupper Anthony Kim at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship last year, earning him a spot in the 2007 Masters. Even though he thought he’d turn pro after the Masters, after talking with people including former USGA Executive Committee member Mary Bea Porter-King. he decided to take a run at the 2007 USA Walker Cup team this September. Watabu will be staying with friends in Mission Viejo in California to make the traveling to summer competition easier. Watabu will be at the U.S. Open sectional in Murrieta California June 4th, then he’ll be playing in Sunnehanna, Pennsylvania and Sahalee Players in Seattle, Washington before defending his U.S. Amateur Public Links title July 9 to the 14th at Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois. Then it’s to the Porter Cup in Lewiston, New York followed by the Pacific Coast Amateur and the U.S Amateur at The Olympic Club in San Francisco in late August. If he gets his wish, and the golf gods are with him, he’ll be one of the ten-member USA Walker Cup team that’ll be playing in Northern Ireland September 8-9 at Royal County Down.
JAPAN SUPERHERO
Japanese media got carried away with the victory of a young man on May 21st declaring “New Hero!” in Nikkan Sports and Sankei Sports taking it one step further by headlining “More of a genius than Woods!” 15-year-old schoolboy Ryo Ishikawa was a world record breaker after his astonishing win at the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup.
Ishikawa fired 69 and 66 on Sunday's final day of the storm-affected tournament to become the youngest winner on the Japanese men's tour with a one-stoke victory. At 15 years and eight months, the Saitama-born Ishikawa shattered the previous record held by Spain's Seve Ballesteros, who won the 1977 Japan Open at 20 years and seven months.
ALOHA SECTION PGA UPDATE
The 2007 Westfield Aloha Section Junior PGA Championship will be held at the Princeville Makai Golf Club June 28-29th. The Aloha Section PGA is accepting applications until June 20th via the website, http://www.aloha.pga.com/ or by getting one through the Section office. That number is 593-2230 or toll free from the neighbor islands at 1 877 742-6248.
Ages 8 and under will play nine holes each day and 9 and up will play 18 holes per day. The winners of the 13-18 boys’ and girls’ divisions qualify to join over 150 of the nations top junior golfers in the PGA of America’s junior event, the Westfield Junior PGA Championship in July. The winners of that event go on to international competition.
Only two juniors from Hawaii have won the national title, Stephanie Kono is 2005 and Reynold Lee in 1988. Kono went on to win the international competition that was held in Germany.
HALL OF FAME
The Aloha Section PGA also inducted its most recent honoree into the Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame. Former Kapalua playing professional and tournament director Dick McClean was feted at a dinner ceremony at the Hawaii Prince Hotel in Waikiki.
He is the 60th person voted into the Hall.
While working at Kapalua between 1984 and 1998, McClean racked up one of the most impressive playing records in the state. He won the Hawaii State Open twice, the Maui Open four times and the Aloha Section PGA Championship five times. He was the Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year six times and played in the United Airlines Hawaiian Opens seven times. He served for 12 years as the tournament director for the Lincoln-Mercury Kapalua International, what we now call the Mercedes Benz Championship. He has played in the U.S. Open, the British Open, on the PGA Tour and that’s just the beginning of his list of accomplishments in the game of golf.
McClean, in a statement released by the Aloha Section PGA, said he is deeply honored to be inducted, especially meaningful because he isn’t from Hawaii. “I have such a great respect for the people there, and to be considered one of them, well, that’s the best part of it”. McClean now lives in La Quinta.
ALOHA SECTION PGA FOUNDATION AND CASTLE RESORTS AND HOTELS 2007 UH SCHOLARSHIP PRO-AM SERIES
The Castle Resorts #2 team led by Makena Head Professional Kirk Nelson and his team of amateurs, Roy Ono, Roy Yonaoshi, Keith Nagata and Michael Nitta won the title at the second event of the series underway to raise money by the Aloha Section PGA. The University Of Hawaii golf team will benefit from the series.
Everyone was treated to a round of golf, an awards dinner and played for a total purse of almost $6,000 (gift certificates for amateurs and cash for pros).
The tournament format is a five-person team (one ASPGA Golf Professional and four amateurs) one net, one gross best ball per hole. All amateurs must have a USGA GHIN handicap.
This event is open to the public. Various sponsorship opportunities are also available. If you’d like to be in the next events, contact the Aloha Section PGA Office for more information at (808) 593-2230 or get out http://www.aloha.pga.com/.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, August 31st, 2007, 1PM Shotgun @ Turtle Bay Golf
Friday, November 30th, 2007, 12:30PM Shotgun @ Pearl Country Club
The Aloha Section PGA Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization was created to facilitate many worthy programs such as: Junior Golf, Scholarships, Golfer Development, Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame, Research & Education and the promotion of golf in Hawaii.
OUTDATED RULE GETS UPDATE
You’ve heard of crazy laws still on the books in some cities, states and countries. Here’s a good one that’s just been changed. A British golf club has rewritten it’s rule book to remove a long forgotten World War One ban on Germans and Austrians playing it’s course. It was written after 9 of the club’s members were killed in WWI and discovered again recently when members were researching club history for its 100th anniversary. The vote to remove the rule was unanimous.
INAUGURAL WORLD SERIES OF GOLF
Did you read about the World Series of Golf in Las Vegas, where they combined Texas Hold ‘Em with golf? I figured since so many folks tend to like to add a little something to challenge themselves, the idea would be intriguing. Players ante up on each tee, then can bet, raise, call, check or fold on each subsequent shot. The object of the game is not to shoot the lowest golf score but claim the pot on each hole. With a $10,000 buy in, the event attracted amateur players from around the country and Canada, from construction contractors, to professional gamblers and a milkman from Chicago. The winner? Mark Ewing, a 31 year old entrepreneur and day trader who quit his job two months ago and walked away with $250,000 winning the World Series of Golf. You can watch it on NBC Sports June 23rd and 24th.
LORENA OCHOA, PHIL MICKLESON AND TIGER WOODS
After a lot of soul searching, Phil Mickleson has changed swing coaches from his buddy to the man who brought up Tiger Woods. Butch Harmon is now Mickleson’s go to man. Some say Harmon’s biggest challenge will be to get Mickleson to play less aggressively. So far, under Harmon’s tutelage, Mickleson has come up the leader board at a number of events and then won the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
| Audio Clip (.swf) |
| Click on the link to hear Mickleson talk about how excited he is to have won the event. |
| Audio Clip (.swf) |
| Click here to listen to Mickleson talk about changing teachers. |
Sean O’Hair was so close to victory he could taste it, until a terrible quadruple bogey took out of contention. He was asked if it would scar him for life. “Of course not!” was his response.
| Audio Clip (.swf) |
| Click here to listen to Sean O'Hair contemplate his mistakes |
As for Sergio Garcia, well he is one of the first European players to finish so high at a Players Championship and he is one of the top players still waiting for a win at a major.
| Audio Clip (.swf) |
| Click here to listen to Sergio Garcia |
I think that covers it. Except for Tiger Woods and his win at the Wachovia Championship. He was walking on air after that win only to find himself just about missing the cut at the Player Championship.
Ups and downs to be sure but the man has his priorities set. When the baby comes, Woods says, it’s going to be family first and golf second. Woods says he doesn’t get a lot of sleep at night anyway, so it looks like he’ll be on night time duty!
If you have any questions you’d like to ask, or subjects you’d like me to cover on my golf show or pictures of your loved ones playing golf you’d like me to include in my column, just get in touch with me at the bottom of the page.
In the meantime, I hope you’ll join us in “The Golf Club” on the radio Saturdays on KUMU AM 1500 on Oahu, KONI FM 104.3 on Maui, Lanai, the Big Island and parts of Oahu, KTOH FM 99.9 on Kauai and KPUA AM 670 in Hilo.
Thank you for your Mana, and may you hit the sweet spot every time!
Aloha,
Danielle
