Monday, December 1, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
PARKER TO “SUPER BOWL” OF GOLF
“It feels like it has been a lifetime coming. It has been a dream of mine since I was about 12. This is a huge stepping stone for me.” Parker McLachlin, in his second year on the PGA Tour, got his first win at the Reno-Tahoe Open while the world media was either cheering or heckling Michelle Wie, depending on whether you were watching the first two days or after the weekend cut.
PARKERS’ FIRST PGA TOUR VICTORY
Parker McLachlin joins four others who claimed their first PGA Tour victories at Reno-Tahoe Open including Notah Begay III back in 1998. McLachlin earned his victory in formidable style. He won by 7 strokes. Only Tiger Woods has won by a larger margin this year.
McLachlin took home 540 thousand dollars for this Legends Reno Tahoe Open win. Plus he has secured his PGA Tour playing right, his Tour card, for two years.
The icing on the cake for McLachlin he qualified to play the following week in the PGA Championship, the last of the four PGA Tour majors.
What a way to get your first PGA TOUR victory. On a last minute whim so as not lose the momentum he felt in his game, but exhausted from 7 weeks of traveling and playing, McLachlin entered the event. When it came to day four, McLachlin said he really felt the 8 weeks of traveling and playing. Sunday wasn’t easy. He was struggling to hit the greens, relying on his short game to save par but as McLachlin put it, “Brian was putting the heat on, and I was feeling it. I was gutting it out. I didn’t have much in the tank. It was all I had. I’m pretty spent now.”
Imagine how he felt on Monday, heading off to play against the top players in the world! Elated and pooped. Parker didn’t make the cut. The PGA Championship at Oakland Hills CC was brutal for all.
This year you’ve got to be on your last leg, or last wrist, to win a major, or in McLachlins’ case, exhausted to win his first tournament.
Padraig Harrington, the Irishman with the sore wrist who wasn’t sure he’d enter the British Open and then won is the same Harrington who went out and beat the field, under brutal golf course set up conditions plus terrible weather delays at the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.
I’m still expecting Tiger Woods will win the Player of the Year balloting after his incredible U.S. Open victory on a broken leg. But with Harrington winning the British Open with a bad wrist and then winning the PGA Championship, well maybe the players will choose the European for the honor.
With the race for the FedExCup underway, before the points were reset, Woods had 22,695 points with 6 events played. He’s in the #1 spot followed by Kenny Perry who played 22 events and has 20,878 points. Perry is followed by Phil Mickleson, Padraig Harrington, Anthony Kim, Stewart Cink, Vijay Sing and Justin Leonard. If they don’t play the FedExCup events and opt to play in the Ryder Cup only, or guys from the back of the pack win and split the points, Woods could win the FedExCup without playing. That would indeed be bizarre.
Since I’ve gone this far off point, I might as well finish it up.
TIGER WOODS REHAB
In Tiger Woods’ latest newsletter he writes he is riding his stationary bike now but he still can’t move fast enough to catch his daughter. “I’m a lot more mobile. I can’t catch Sam yet, but I’m getting close. As far as swinging a club, that’s not going to happen until next year. I just don’t have a choice. We simply don’t know what type of swelling there would be. Everyone’s body reacts differently.”
But this is what threw me:
“I don’t know what the doctors are going to tell me about playing golf down the road. I’m taking it day-to-day, week-to-week. All I’m doing every day is looking forward to my next day.”
To keep busy, Woods is working on his golf course design projects for courses in Dubai and in North Carolina.
PARKERS DREAM COME TRUE
Let us get back to the benefits of winning on the PGA Tour for Parker McLachlin. He is playing in the season opening Mercedes Benz Championship at Kapalua on Maui in January. That’s like the Super Bowl of golf, with only the winners from the past year playing with the Ritz Carlton, Kapalua Resort and Mercedes Benz pulling out all of the stops to make sure those winners and their families want for nothing. The goody bags are stuffed, for player and wives, and they’re treated like royalty with private parties and concerts before they play the Plantation course. Last year it was Bonnie Raitt in private concert!
McLachlin says this has been a dream of his since he was about 12. “I used to go over there and work that golf tournament picking the range, spending the week over there when I was 13, 14 years old being a standard bearer,” said McLachlin, 29, who held on with a 2-over-par 74 Sunday to win the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open at 18-under 270—seven strokes better than Brian Davis and John Rollins. “I can vividly remember being a standard bearer for Fred Couples. I just idolized those guys and to be part of that fraternity, I just can’t express it,” he said.
McLachlin is now 53rd on the PGA Tour money list and 47th in FedExCup points.
Not bad for a guy who didn’t think he was strong enough to play until Monday, the first day of the week of the event, the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open.
McLachlin started off with a beautiful 68 on Thursday while Michelle Wie was getting all of the media attention after she shot a pretty good one-over par 73. She had a practice round in the 80’s but brushed it off as just a learning lesson, getting accustomed to the altitude and the terrain.
The second day, Friday, was all McLachlin.
He shot a tournament record tying round of 62, ten strokes below par and if Wie hadn’t been playing he might have gotten a more media attention but she was and he didn’t.
In fact with the Ricoh British Women’s Open, the World Golf Championship and the U.S. Senior Open all being played the same weekend, the only reason we heard much about the Reno Tahoe Open was because Wie was there.
Parker had 10 birdies—seven on the last 10 holes—to tie the course record with a 10-under 62 that gave him a four stroke lead over 1987 Masters winner Larry Mize and three others.
He summed up in one word the stellar wedge play that left him with seven birdie attempts within 7 feet, two of those from 2 feet and one from 4 inches. “Luck,” said the 29-year-old UCLA product who has five top 25 PGA finishes this year and ranks 98th on the tour money list. “Missing greens, I’ve always had to find a way to get up and down. So my wedge game has always been pretty good. And if you put a little bit of luck in there, you hole out a few shots,” he said.
THE WIE FACTOR
Michelle Wie could have used “luck”. She was doing pretty good at the Legends Reno-Tahoe on Friday with two bogeys and a birdie until the 13th hole. She had a double bogey on the 518-yard, par-5 No. 4 and then came that pesky quintuple-bogey 9 four holes later on the 464-yard, par-4 No. 8. She had to take two penalty strokes. Her first tee shot ended up with an unplayable lie in the trees and the second one went left into a waste area with sage brush and pine trees, where she had to take another drop and needed four more shots to reach the green. She finished with a birdie on the 626-yard, par-5 ninth.
“I feel my game is a lot better,” Wie said. “Obviously the score doesn’t show it, but I know what I need to work on. I gave it my best today and I felt like I did a lot of good things and hopefully that outshines the ones I made mistakes on.”
The tournament director told me straight up, Wie had the biggest galleries of any of the players in the event.
WHAT”S NEXT FOR WIE
Not bad but not good enough is how you could sum up Michelle Wies’ summer. She finished T-12 in what is scheduled to be her last LPGA event of the year, the Canadian Women’s Open in Ottawa.
That didn’t earn her the $80 thousand dollars she needed to earn her playing privilege on the LPGA Tour. The number was an average but we can tell you she either had to win an event, finish in the top 80 on the LPGA Tour, or finish in the top five on the Duramed Future Tour money list. She didn’t play on that tour so we’re left with ranking and money. She earned a total of $62,763, which would rank 114th today, with 10 events still remaining on the schedule she can’t play in.
Fields Open T-72 $2,570
Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill Missed cut $0
Wegmans LPGA T-24 $18,887
U.S. Women's Open Missed cut $0
Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic T-46 $4,831
State Farm Classic Disqualified $0
Canadian Women's Open T-12 $36,475
It seems her only option we know of is to earn full status for next season by earning her card at the LPGA Qualifying Tournament.
TADD FUJIKAWA
Tadd Fujikawa has chosen the “college” of his choice, the Japan Golf Tour Organization. His “collegiate” experience will prepare him for tackling the PGA Tour, following in the footsteps of Dean Wilson. Pearl Country Club’s Gregory Meyer is also on the JGTO. Fujikawa first he has to graduate from Moanalua High School and make it through JGTO Q school. Fujikawa is exempted out of the first stage but he’ll start with the second and then the grueling final stage.
US SENIOR OPEN
Unfortunately Hawaii David Ishii didn’t make the cut in this year’s U.S. Senior Open Championship. But Argentina has “both U.S. Opens now”, the words of Eduardo Romero, the U.S. Senior Open Champion. The 54-year-old Argentinean won by four strokes, the largest margin of victory since 1995. But the scoring wasn’t that great. Four straight bogeys on the back nine at the Broadmoor East course pushed Romero up to a 73 on Sunday, the second highest final score. But overall, Romero finished 6-under 274, four shots ahead of second place Fred Funk and five ahead of Mark McNulty.
"The scoring, it's no good, but it's all right," said Romero, who becomes just the fifth international player to win this major and first since Australian Graham Marsh in 1997. He also joins fellow countryman Robert De Vicenzo (1980) as a champion of this major.
"I win the tournament, I take the trophy home, two U.S. Opens now in Argentina," said Romero through his broken English. "[Angel] Cabrera won the U.S. Open [in 2007] and then I won this one, it's fantastic. And then it was beautiful when I'm walking to the 18th green; I see the fans. It's fantastic. It's fantastic."
"When I come here, the dream is coming true," said Romero. "This is very important, very important. I don't know how to say, because I'm still excited. I'm still shaking. But it's beautiful."
I wish all the winners had this much to say. For someone speaking English as a barely second language, he spoke to my heart.
Fred Funk was using some major body language trying to coax a putt!
WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN
Lorena Ochoa came to the Women’s British Open firmly established as the world No. 1 and strongly favored to retain the title she won last year at St. Andrew’s.
Instead, she was engulfed by the tide of Asian players who are taking over the women’s game! We may be losing the Fields Open and the Turtle Bay Championship but I don’t think the SBS is going anywhere given the number of extremely successful Korean golfers on the tour, 30, and that SBS stands for Seoul Broadcasting System.
Ochoa tied for seventh, but the top five were Asians, led by the winner, Ji-Yai Shin of South Korea. Thirteen of the leading 20 on the leaderboard were from South Korea, Japan or Taiwan.
“They’re all coming. And it’s not stopping either,” said Juli Inkster, who led after an opening round 7-under 65 but tailed off for a share of 14th. Ochoa, who won four titles in succession on the LPGA Tour this year, acknowledged that it going to take a lot of hard work—even for her—to stem the tide of top players coming out of Asia.
“I think we all knew that there are so many and they are playing so well and consistently and working so hard,” the Mexican said. “Now we can see that the Asian Tour is becoming very strong. The top players are coming to the States and they can also win in the States. Before it was a different story.
“So the rest of us just need to prepare and continue working hard with so many more good players around.”
Asian players have now won the last three majors. Yani Tseng of Taiwan won the LPGA Championship in early June and no less than Annika Sorenstam predicted she would not be surprised to see Tseng as the world No. 1 in a few years.
Inbee Park of Korea won the U.S. Open.
The other Asians near the top of the leaderboard were Eun Hi Ji of South Korea and Yuri Fudoh of Japan tied third, and tiny Japanese Ai Miyazato in fifth place.
ALOHA ANNIKA
Huddled under an umbrella in the pouring rain, Annika Sorenstam walked up to the 18th green in the final round of her final major to take the cheers from the fans. A sign on the scoreboard said: “Annika, you will be missed.” “To finish with a birdie is just obviously extra,” she said. “It didn’t seem like there was any doubt it was going in.
“I wish I wanted it as much as I used to, but I don’t.” Although Sorenstam appeared to fight off the tears, her caddy of nine years, Terry McNamara, was less successful.
“It is the end. It’s getting harder,” McNamara said. “I’ve been with her for 10 years, a lot of wins. She hit every green today. It is the sign of a champion to come out when you don’t have a chance of winning and play like that. She’s great. Nobody’s done it better. I’ll never forget this.”
HSWGA STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2008 Hawaii State Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Championship, another terrific event at the Mid Pacific Country Club, was held at the end of July. Hawaii’s top female amateur golfers were there including two time defending champion Kristina Merkle. But it was Kati Sisler who took the trophy home/
Sisler never gave up the lead through three hot days along the gorgeous Lanikai coastline on one side and the Koolau rising sheer from sea level to the clouds above on the other. Sisler shot rounds of 73, 73 and 77. Miki Ueoka and Hayley Young tied for runner up spot with scores of 9-over par 225, two shots back.
PGA JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
It played out at the TPC River’s Bend, the 33rd Junior PGA Championship, an event that is put on by the PGA of America and pays for the qualifiers to get to Ohio, stay there, compete and return. It’s a huge accomplishment for any of our junior golfers to get to the Championship and in the recent past Hawaii’s Stephanie Kono won the event and represented the United States at the next level of competition, the World Championship held in Germany the year of Konos’ victory.
This year, we had 7 boys and girls qualified to play.
Cassy Isagawa and Kristina Merkle made the cut and ended the tournament T35.
Kimberly Kim did not play although she did qualify.
Trey Kaahanui, Alika Bell, Robert Greenleaf and David Fink played but unfortunately didn’t make the final cut.
Congratulations to all of you for hard work you put in just getting there!
US AMATEUR
At the 108th U.S. Amateur Championship, played at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club – Course No. 2 and No. 4 – Hawaii’s Lorens Chan was in the field. The cut, the top 63 and ties, was 5-over par. Chan shot rounds of 77 and 73, ten-over par 150 and tied for 185th.
US WOMEN’S AMATEUR
Hawaii was well represented in this 108th U.S. Womens Amateur. Cyd Okino, Kimberly Kim and Mari Chun didn’t make the cut. Okino shot 84 77, Kim 82 71, Mari Chun 73 78. Ayaka Kaneko and Stephanie Kono made it into the match play rounds. Kaneko lost to Spains Belen Mozo after 19 holes in the round of 64. Mozo went all the way to the semi-final round. Kono beat Julie Yang 3 & 2.
Kono defeated Jane Chin 4 & 3 but lost to Whitney Neuhauser 1 up in the round of 16.
Mozo went on to defeat Newhauser in the quarterfinal. Azahara Munoz beat Mozo in the semifinal and Amanda Blumenhurst beat Munoz for the championship at the Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Oregon.
THE MAYOR’S CHALLENGE CUP
The 2008 Mayor’s Challenge Cup was played at Wailua Golf Course this year. On Kauai, qualifying was all month long! And you didn’t have to play both rounds for your gross score for two 18-holes of play. After all, if you won, you didn’t have to make arrangements to fly to Oahu.
On Oahu, the qualifying was one weekend at the Ala Wai golf course. Thanks to the great shutterbug Ken Tsui, we have pictures of some of the winners out to defend Oahu’s win last year.
Men’s Open Championship
Ron Yogi – 76-71 – 147 in a playoff against Joey Sakaue – 71-76 – 147. Third place Doug Williams.
Men’s Open A
Michael Miguel – 76-76 – 152 over Craig Nakagawa and Jason Tanaka who tied for second 159.
Men’s Open B
Dexter Chun – 75-81 – 156.
Men’s Senior Championship
Gary Kong – 78-72 – 150
Men’s Senior A
Keith Komatsubara – 76-85 – 161
Men’s Senior B
Kent Kishi – 86-81 – 167
Men’s Senior C
Kyle Paishon – 88-90 – 178
Men’s Super Senior Championship
Wayne Matsunaga – 81-79 – 160
Men’s Super Senior A
Bert Fong – 81-79 – 160 with a second place tie of Robert Sellers and Thomas Shibuya 165.
Men’s Super Senior B
Melvin Kaneshiro 82-91 – 173
Junior Boys
Women’s Championship
Chae Kobayashi – 78-79 – 157
ALOHA SECTION PGA
2008 TURTLE BAY GOLF MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
The 5 time Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year has another win to add to his list of accomplishments. Kevin Hayashi, Mauna Kea Resort, defeated Kevin Carll, Turtle Bay Golf, in 20 holes. During that final round, Hayashi birdied holes #2 and #3 and parred #5 and #6 to go 4-up. Carll then parred #7, #8, #10, #11, and eagled #12 to go 1-up. Hayashi then turned up the heat with birdies on #14 and #16 to go 1-up. Carll rebounded with a par at #17 to make the match all square. The match was all square after regulation. Hayashi parred the second extra hole giving him the 1-up win through 20 holes.
It should have been on television!
Lance Taketa of Hilo Municipal Golf Course defeated Bill Hunt of the Golf Academy of Hawaii 3-1 to win the Senior Division Match Play held on August 12th. Taketa played the first three holes 1-under par and jumped out to a quick 3-up lead. Hunt responded by playing holes #4, #5, and #6 1-under par to put the match back to all square. Taketa made a birdie at #8 to go 1-up, but Hunt birdied #9 to keep the match all-square through nine holes. Taketa went par, birdie, par on #10, #11, and #12 to go 3-up. Hunt birdied #14 and parred #15 to remain only 1-dn. However, Taketa went par and then birdie on #16 and #17 to close the match at 3-1.
It should have been on television!
The Match Play Championship is the second major championship of the 2008 season. The Turtle Bay Golf Match Play Championship featured thirty-one island professionals, all playing match play. The field was seeded based on Player of the Year / Senior Player of the Year point standings as of August 10th. Defending champions were automatically seeded #1. There was also a consolation round held on the George Fazio Course. Bradley Bowen of Kahili Golf Course and Kellan Anderson of Turtle Bay Golf claimed low pro honors by shooting 72.
SENIOR PGA PROFESSIONAL NATIONAL
Five Hawaii “seniors” will be taking their game to the 2008 Senior PGA Professional National Championship. Twenty-six competed at the Mauna Lani Resort on the Big Island for a chance to play LaQuinta in the 2008 Senior PGA Professional National Championship in early October. Jay Taise of Mauna Kea Resort won, after a sudden death playoff against Mark Morrison of Swing and Play Easy. Morrison missed his 18-foot playoff putt on the first playoff hole and came in second.
Defending champion Larry Stubblefield and Lance Taketa of Hilo Muni tied for third. Bill Hunt of the Golf Academy of Hawaii and Mike Iyoki of the US Army Golf Courses came in tied for fifth.
Taise, Morrison, Taketa, Hunt and Iyoki are eligible to play for $20,000 at the Toscana CC in Indian Wells and Andalusia CC in LaQunita, California. The low 35 in that event are automatically invited to play in the 2009 Senior PGA Championship in May of 2009 at the Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland, Ohio. The top five finishers will also be exempt into the final stage of the Champions Tour Qualifying.
PRO PRO
They team up and learn to depend on each others game. It’s a lot harder than it sounds. The team of TJ Figueroa of Kahului and Garrett Okamura of Wailuku had never played as a team before but they pulled off the win at the Royal Kaanapali Golf Course in the 2008 ProLink Solutions/Srixon Pro-Pro Championship. But it took a 3 hole playoff to finish off the team of Regan Lee and Beau Yokomoto of Pearl Country Club on Oahu.
Figueroa and Okamura had a three stroke lead going into the final round but with the wind and the heat, Lee and Yokomoto forced a playoff.
On the first par-5 playoff hole (#1 Royal), Figueroa struck a 237-yard second shot to land 20 feet from the hole, but missed his eagle opportunity by a foot. Yokomoto matched his birdie putt to force the group to move to the par-3, 2nd hole, where both teams bogied.
The wind was strong and all four players were feeling the heat as they played out their final playoff hole on #16. Figueroa pushed his drive and it went into the hazard area by #17 tee box and made a phenomenal shot that kicked off a coconut tree and onto the fringe of the green. TJ then 2 putted for par to win the hole for him and Okamura.
“We had a blast – it was a lot of fun today,” said Okamura as they came off the green all smiles. Figueroa added as they admired the leader board back at the clubhouse, “We’re just taking it all in – we’re very excited.” Both players used a Srixon ball, qualifying them for the “Srixon Challenge” where an additional cash prize ($500 for first place) was awarded to the top three teams using a Srixon ball.
Graduating from Baldwin High School, Figueroa and Okamura have worked at several courses across the state and participate in several State Open and PGA Aloha Section events throughout the year. Figueroa played on some of the mini tours this year and has been working towards Q School in September, which would allow him to get his TOUR card.
PGA ASSISTANT CHAMPIONSHIP
It was another windy day on the Windward side of Oahu. It’s been living up to its name in spades this year with wind and high surf. Surf aside, John Shaw of Kapalua’s Bay Course managed his game in the wind and turned out a 4-under par 68 in the final round for a two day total of 142.
That was a 3-stroke win over Tom Freestone of Princeville’s Makai course and Regan Lee of the Pearl Country Club. Freestone and Lee had a playoff for second qualifying spot for a chance to advance to the national championship. Freestone sank a 10 foot putt on the second playoff hole for birdie and secured the qualifying spot. Kyle Trenholm of Ko Olina Golf Club finished in fourth place.
AMERICA’S CUP TEAM
The 36th Boys Junior America’s Cup and Hawaii did alright. Played at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver, Washington at the end of July, Team Hawaii finished in 5th place with a score of 25-over par 673 after three days of stroke play.
David Fink, on his way to Ohio to play in the Westfield Junior PGA Championship, led the team. He had a total 4-over par 220 with rounds of 74-74-72.
Team Southern California took first place with a 12-over 660 and Patrick Cantlay of California won the individual competition with a 4-under par 212.
THE 85th BIG ISLAND AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
The first time’s the charm for Sean Maekawa, the winner of the 85th Big Island Amateur Championship with a 4 under-par 212 played on the Mauna Lani Resort’s Francis H. I’I Brown North Course.
Maekawa, playing on the University of Oregan golf team, played against three-time champion Gariel Wilson, who can in second this year, and Kealakehe’s Andrew Ackert, who took third. It was Maekawa’s steady play that kept him in the lead throughout the event. Ross Birch is the director of golf at Mauna Lani, where he says they look forward to many more championships.
In the A-Flight, Jim Sheeley won with a three-day total of 235 followed by Ron Abarn and Wedemeyer Au.
The Big Island Amateur Golf Tournament was first played in 1924 at Hilo Country Club and it’s been played at the Mauna Lani for the last five. It’s one of the oldest running golf competitions west of the Mississippi. The perpetual Trophy was created in 1936.
HAWAII NO KA OI
Bill Evans and Craig Forney, both Atlanta residents, enjoyed their round at the Kapolei Golf Course on Oahu Forney said he was ready for another round, but Evans added he felt "fried". The Ewa Plain can do that to you. It's hot on a clear, windless day. I doubt that's the cause of his fatigue. Kapolei was the 50th course the two men had played in 50 days. That included driving a bus to the next course after playing. They flew to Alaska and Hawaii.
"We felt like this was a good cause to give back to," said Forney, a PGA golf professional. "I think that everybody needs to look inside and say, 'What can I do for others without having to get something in return?'"
Both Evans and Forney have felt the chill of cancer in their families. So the two decided to set out to raise $1 million dollars for breast cancer, prostrate cancer and melanoma research. (Remember the article in GolfDigest suggesting if you play golf, you are more likely to end up with skin cancer.)
Their tour began on June 9 in Vermont and wrapped with that round at Kapolei on July 22nd. Trying to get word on how much has been raised so far.
Evans and Forney chose courses based on major cities and easy access. Forney said they'd played anywhere from high-end courses to hard up municipal courses. "It's fitting because cancer doesn't afflict any certain economic group, race or gender. They raised money through the50in50.com. One sponsor donated $100 per birdie. Others $5 per and it all adds up.
OFF TO PINEHURST
It’s the second year of the McGladrey National Team Championship. It’s a grass roots amateur best-ball team championship put on by the PGA of America. PGA Professionals and their team of amateurs compete for at least $15,000 in prizes at the Section Team Championship and then $200,000 at the National Team Championship.
Last year, the team from Makena on Maui went, after winning the Hawaii sectional at Turtle Bay, to become one of the 164-player National Team Championship field. This year, it is Kauai’s turn to play on Pinehurst’s premier layouts, Nos. 2, 4 and 8.
After months of local events, across the state, PGA Professional Steven Murphy teamed with Dana Palama, Keither Yamamoto and Rory Rayno, representing Princeville Prince Course and won the Aloha Section Team Championship with a 13-under par 131. The Section event was held August 10 at the Arnold Palmer Course at Turtle Bay Resort, the home of the SBS Open and the Champions Tour Turtle Bay Championship.
The Turtle Bay team of Kevin Carll and amateurs Allan Kuaana, Fred Denault and Paul Ichimura finished runner-up at 133 while Ko Olina’s Daniel Hee and amateurs Darrell Izumi, Derek Hamada and Troy Higashiyama came in third at 135. There were 10 teams in the Section Team Championship from Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.
The PGA McGladrey Team Championship is a result of the new partnership between The PGA of America and RSM McGladrey, the Official Accounting, Tax and Business Consulting Firm of The PGA of America.
LUANA HILLS AND OLOMANA FOR BARAK OBAMA
Joined by two friends from Chicago, staffer Marvin Nicholson, and some pals from Hawaii, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee dropped by Luana Hills Country Club in Kailua, Hawaii for a round of golf - the second golf outing of his week long vacation. At Luana Hills, Barak Obama, carried his clubs from his Secret Service motorcade to a waiting motorcade of golf carts.
With that, the entourage left the clubhouse for the “high risk/high rewards” 18-hole course that boats breathtaking views of nearby Mount Olomana and Ko’olau.
When Luana Hills first opened in 1993, the club charged a lifetime membership fee of $250,000. Today the course is open to the public and, sure to please Republicans, the club’s website boasts, “The hidden valley course is a site for feature films and a frequent stop of celebrities visiting Hawai’i, including former golfing President Bill Clinton.”
RYDER CUP COMPETITION
Paul Azinger and Nick Faldo were in Michigan last month for the Ryder Cup News Conference and playing poker and golf on Mississippi's "Golf Coast." Golfers at the areas more than 300 holes of golf and visitors at its 11 casinos were buzzing with the knowledge the two "Captains" were here in the same place they were vacationing. They were competing in the "Paul Azinger Captains' Challenge" which will be shown on The Golf Channel Sept. 8 - make sure to tune in to see where they played and who won.
HAWAII LOSING TOUR STOPS
It’s been a couple years in coming. Watching the organizing efforts made by the Fields Corporation at the Fields Open the past two years made it obvious the company was just fulfilling its contractual obligations and had no intention of renewing. And so it came as no surprise when they made the official announcement. So is Hawaii losing it luster, after also losing the Turtle Bay Championship on the Champions Tour schedule?
We’ve had a really good run for a long time in Hawaii. And we have to face facts. The economy, globally, is facing very difficult times. When the numbers of Russians entering Beijing to do business was down 47%, during the Olympics (Economist, August 16th issue), you know everyone – even oil rich countries – are feeling the pinch of what looks like a global recession.
But we have something to be grateful for.
The Kapalua LPGA Classic, scheduled for Oct. 13 to 19, was added this season.
The season-opening SBS Open is scheduled for Feb. 9 to 14, 2009. However, SBS's title sponsorship agreement expires after next year. SBS is Korea's largest independent television network and production company. With 30 Koreans playing on the LPGA Tour it’s unlikely SBS will not renew its contract.
AVANCE OWNERSHIP CHANGE
You know here from Mid Pacific Country Club. Debra Chun has taken over the Avance Salon on Kapiolani Boulevard. If you’re looking for a haircut or the full salon experience with wonderful pedicures, a fabulous new hair “look”, Avance is for you. Lots of free, covered parking, 9 stylists including a long hair specialist, and you never know who’ll be relaxing in a chair – Emme Tominbang – Hawaii’s 2008 Cherry Blossom Queen Trisha Tamaru – Frank DeLima. The stylists at Avance have years of experience and their craft is their passion. Avance manager Sharon Namahoe says “we have a new owner, a new atmosphere and fun future ahead of us. Our goal is to make Avance a warm, comfortable place to come and hang out.’
And that’s a wrap for this month!
I hope you’ll join me Saturday morning for “The Golf Club” radio show on KONI FM on Maui, KPUA AM in Hilo, KUMU AM on Oahu and KTOH on Kauai from 7 AM till 8:30 AM. It’s called “The Golf Club” because I think of it as a clubhouse full of folks talking and listening about the game that brings us all together.
In the meantime, thank you for your Mana and may you hit the sweet spot every time.
Aloha,
Danielle
