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Nathan Lashley is our 2011 Mid-Pac Open champion. He came from Scottsdale, Arizona, conquered the field, and the course, and took home $15,000. His final score was 12-under par 276. That’s not close to the record. That belongs to Hawaii’s David Ishii’s 17-under win back in 1986.
Lashley’s final round, 2-under par 70 included 5 birdies on what was essentially a windless Mid-Pacific Country Club. Usually the wind blows off the Pacific across Lanikai Beach, making the long par 72 course a challenge from tee to green.
In addition to the weather conditions, there is Mid Pacific Country Club superintendent Jason Amoy who knows how to set up a championship course.
Amoy spent years doing that at The Sony Open in Hawaii when he was superintendent at the Waialae Country Club. He is notorious for making the pin placement relatively benign on the first two days of competition and then changing it up for Saturday and Sunday play. I’m told he didn’t disappoint. Amoy pin placement was, as usual, very difficult but Lashley recovered from some difficult moments, mentally, during the final round.
Lashley was under the gun on Friday and Saturday, chased by 2011 Hawaii Pearl Open champion John Ellis. They were tied for the lead going into Sunday play but Lashley steadily increased his lead on Sunday when Ellis didn’t get the lucky bounces. Ellis, from San Jose, finished with a 7-under par 281. After his 67-70-69, his final round was 75. The former Canadian Order of Merit winner didn’t do that bad. His payday was still $10,000.
Brady Stockton, another player from Arizona, took 3rd and a $5,000 check.
Kalena Preus, who took time out of his warm up routine on Saturday to join me on “The Golf Club” radio show was the low amateur champion with a total score of 7-over par. Preus is a terrific young man, with loads of personality, and well-spoken. If he wants it, he has a future in the game. He finished T-10 overall.
Tyler Simpson came in 2nd at 8-over par 296 and Skye Inakoshi, who has been playing in the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association since the age of 7, rounded out the top three low amateurs with a 9-over par 297.
Also on the show, Billy the Goat, who writes regularly for 808golf.com, and made the cut this year, describes his final day on the course. But first, the view of the course from the back, and from the front of the Mid Pacific Country Club.
Day Four Mid Pac Open
Well as far as I was concerned the greens were perfect, not that I played them all that well.
I started on #10 so it will be in that order. Pin on 10 was on the back shelf and in a spot where if you were not careful you could end up back into the fat part of the green, tough but not bad. #11 back left in a gully, traditional spot with a 200 yard shot that was guarded by a bunker, again tough but not bad.
#12, ah #12, yes he did put it lower right and that was one of the tough and bad if you were not in the right spot. I wasn’t. Then to add stress #13 was front right. Our group went 6,6,7,7. One of Honolulu’s finest had to one putt to save his 7 after chipping on only to have it roll off twice. Ouch!!
#14 and#15 were medium and not bad so there was some relief after that. #16 has been a lot worse and although back left, not really that far left so tragedy wasn’t imminent if you missed just a little. #17 was medium as well. #18 was a little tricky if you were trying to stick the pin being pretty close to the left edge but not bad again.
I turned in 49, a nine I must put behind me.
#1 was a little dicey hiding behind the bunker and a bit close to the edge, I give it a “kinda tough rating”. # 2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7 all medium hard, still had to respect the speed but a close putt didn’t result in an off the green kind of drama. Then there was #8. It has been worse but once again back left and probably one of the harder ones today. #9 was reasonable as well so there you have it hole by hole.
I finished in 48, another nine I must put behind me.
It was nice to see speeds up and pins with little nuances to make life interesting. As you can see by the scores some of us played well. Some B flight guys in the low 80’s and a good number of us couldn’t smell a 90.
All in all a great 4 days, I am looking forward to next year. My mantra will be play for no more than the bogie and let the pars fall where they may. For us back of the pack guys that is probably a good course management thought. I am of the opinion that if I played it to be on in one over regulation, close enough to one putt, and yet not far away to three putt I may make the cut again. Thank goodness for that 82 on day one, and Advil was indeed my friend.
Billy the Goat
Here’s a link to the final scores
ALOHA GOLF CENTER
If you’re looking for a convenient, close to downtown Honolulu, comfortable, no stress place to learn about the game, find the equipment you’re looking for or have your clubs fitted and fixed, the Aloha Golf Center is perfect. You can buy your lunch next door, take it to the Aloha Golf Center, hang out, talk golf and leave. You don’t have to buy anything just to drop in and have a golf experience.
Go down, check it out and have fun. The phone number is 808-687-0888.
Their link is http://www.alohagolfcenter.net/.
VISION54 “PLAY YOUR BEST GOLF NOW”
I’m always looking for ways to improve my game of golf and the quality of my day-to-day existence. That living in the moment concept we so frequently hear about. Not letting the little things bother you, like what MS Word is doing as I try to write a simple sentence and it formats or makes “decisions” for me. I’m sure it’s because I’m too ignorant to know what settings I have inadvertently activated in the application. I could let it really let it make me furious. I have.
I’ve let myself become furious with myself over my crappy golf game. I'm sure it's because I don't practice enough, have unrealistic expectations and lack confidence in my decision-making. I tell my friends, “don’t worry, I’m just angry with myself". Don’t let my temper tantrum upset your day? Right! That works.
How can you ignore the person growling at themselves and tromping off down the fairway in search of the errant shot? Does that make my next swing better? Heck no. Not only is my body language distressing my friends, it’s making me feel even less confident and it’s encouraging the voice in my head to tell me what a failure I am. And the cycle continues.
Sound familiar? Have you been there, done that? Or have you had to endure the experience because you actually like the person when they’re not playing golf.
Good luck getting through to that person. I wouldn’t give it more than one try. Like most lessons in life, people don’t learn the lesson until they’re ready. And when they do, they’ll come and tell you about their revelation and you’ll just smile and nod because you’re gracious and wouldn’t dream of saying I told you so.
But I do have something for you if you’re ready. It’s a book called “Play Your Best Golf Now”. It’s the third book in a series written by golf coaches Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott with Ron Sirak. You could get all three and start with "Every Shot Must Have a Purpose" and then read "The Game Before the Game" but I don't think it’s necessary.
In "Play Your Best Golf Now" Nilsson and Marriott, with Sirak, take you on a journey with what they call the 8 Essential Playing Skills:
Easier said than done you say? Sure, but they help you feel good about the game you have now, help you enjoy that game and give you ideas and exercises to help you make that game and yourself better.
Here’s an example that I found very liberating. While reading the book, VISION54 gave me permission to ignore all the mechanics of the golf swing and trust my instinct.
Just this tip in the book is worth getting it:
"Before you start tinkering with your swing....".
On second thought, just get the book already.
Here’s a link to the Amazon.com page
HAWAII STATE JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION
Heard of the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association? Mary Bea Porter-King was one of the founders about 13 years ago. She was on my show early one Saturday, when I tried to nonchalantly let “HSJGA” roll of my tongue. Try it. As she said then, it takes getting used to. When Mary Bea founded the HSJGA, there were junior golf groups and high school golf teams that played in mini tournaments on each island. No one tried to organize junior golf statewide, between the islands. Like harnessing a team of horses, today there is a thriving network of island teams, and high school teams and everyone belongs to their team and the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association.
The 2011 HSJGA Junior Tour Series (14 and Under) on Oahu at Mililani Golf Club. This event is the third of four events for the HSJGA Spring Junior Tour. It was sunny for most of the event until the rainstorm let loose over Central Oahu toward the end of Round 2. Shawn Lu (Boys 11-12) of Honolulu was the only player in the first found to score blow par with a 71. And a big fist pump when Kolbe Irei (Boys 7-10) holed out a pitch shot during play of the first hole at Mililani Golf Club.
The 14 and Under Junior Tour Series was started four (4) years ago to help prepare younger HSJGA Members for the HSJGA summer tournament schedule.
The HSJGA gets kids moving inter-island to compete for points and win the top State honors, and to the US Mainland to compete in the American Junior Golf Association, the Future Collegians World Tour, The Callaway Junior World Golf Championships, and the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation – just to name a few.
Porter-King has taken the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association one step further to help Hawaii kids experience international competition by creating the Asia-Pacific Junior Cup held each year in November. In 2012, the HSJGA will host the Boys Junior America’s Cup and the following year, host the Girls Junior America’s Cup.
Like to help make this continue?
http://www.hsjga.org/index.php/donate/sponsorship-opportunities-holes-10-18/
THE US NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN JUNE
This month, the United States Golf Association is holding qualifiers for golfers trying to get into our U.S. Open, our national championship.
Through the hard work of Mary Bea Porter-King, and others, the USGA has agreed to continue holding qualifiers in Hawaii. It’s not only to give Hawaii golfers a break so they don't have to spend hundreds, thousands, of dollars to get to the Mainland qualifiers. It’s gives international players from Japan, Korea and other parts of Asia easier access as well.
In May, on Oahu, the qualifier is being held at the Ernie Els designed Hoakalei Golf Course.
On the Big Island, it'll be held at the Waikoloa King's Course.
On Kauai, the Kauai Lagoons Golf Course.
And on Maui, the normally member only King Kamehameha Golf Course is making itself available to the qualifiers. The cost to enter the U.S. Open qualifiers was only $150.
Just the opportunity to play these courses, stay on a home island, is worth the price. And if one of our golfers gets through the sectional, they'll be playing in the U.S. Open at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland in June.
It is really important for Hawaii's golf community and supporters to encourage anyone who has the ability, to play in the qualifiers, to register and play. It took a lot of coaxing to get the qualifiers held on each island and to keep them going even though the numbers haven't been that high. I hope there were enough this time around to keep it available to the next year’s U.S. Open.
The deadline coming up next is May 4th. It's for the U.S. Women's Open Sectional qualifier. That will be played at the Poipu Bay Golf Course on Kauai. You have to be entered in the qualifier no later than 11 AM Hawaii time on May 4th. The qualifier will be played on May 22nd.
After the May 4th deadline, the next entry deadline is 11 AM on May 11th.
If you want to go for it at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Qualifier or the U.S Women’s Amateur Public Links qualifier, also being play at Poipu Bay Golf Course with it’s gorgeous new greens, get your entry in my May 11th at 11 AM.
There are other U.S. Amateur Public Links qualifiers at Waiehu on Maui, at the Ala Wai Golf Course on Oahu and the Hilo Muni. The only other U.S. Women’s Public Links qualifier is at Ewa Beach Golf Course on Oahu.
Here’s the link you’ll need to apply to play:
https://champs.usga.org/index.html
MASTERS WINNER
You’ve heard and read plenty about the Masters, the first major for the men in 2011, the trophy taken by South African Charl Schwartzel.
There are two South African golfers with major championship victories. Louis Oosthuizen is the defending “British” Open champion. The two men are good friends and Schwartzel credits Oosthuizen with giving him inspiration.
And he thanked Ernie Els for setting up a lunch with Jack Nicklaus, who gave him a hole-by-hole strategy session, and Nick Price, who taught him how to play the greens. Schwartzel said last year at the Masters he found the greens go quick, he wasn’t accustomed to the speed so “Nick said he used to find the fastest putt on every green and practice that. That’s what I did for…three weeks. Every tournament I went to, I just practiced the fastest putt I could find…to learn to hit the putts that softly. It really paid off. I felt so good on these greens.
AND MELTDOWN
Much has been written about Rory McIlroy who watched his game come apart in the final round of the Masters. And the following week he was close to winning the Maybank Malaysian Open and didn’t. He’s 21. I think he gets excited and rushes himself without realizing it.
THE FIRST MAJOR OF THE YEAR…KRAFT NABISCO
I enjoy athletes from all around the world. I enjoy watching what athletes push themselves to accomplish. Sometimes I find myself cheering a fabulous play by what is supposed to be the opposing team. So I don’t much care about whether it’s an American or a Korean holding the trophy. I applaud the accomplishment.
That said, it was good to see an American holding the trophy at the end of a long fought tournament and an exciting final round at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Stacy Lewis came from behind beat defending champion and 4-time winner this year alone, Yani Tseng, the powerhouse from Taiwan.
The Golf Writers Association of America honored their 2010 Players of the Year at the GWAA’s Annual Awards Dinner in Augusta, Georgia in early April.
Tseng won 3 events last year, including two LPGA majors last year, the Kraft Nabisco and the Women’s British Open, in addition eight top-10 finishes and she was the LPGA Tour’s Rolex Player of the Year.
ELS FOR AUTISM
Ernie Els made the official announcement at the Sony Open in Hawaii at the beginning of the year. The "Els For Autism Golf Challenge," the largest charity-driven national amateur golf tournament in US history is on. The Els For Autism Foundation, in partnership with Els' longtime sponsors, SAP and Callaway Golf - with participation from their broad families of partners and customers - will actively help form teams for the Challenge.
Els, whose son, Ben, was diagnosed with autism four years ago, stated, "I'm thrilled with the incredible support from SAP and Callaway and their partners. With their help, we'll be able to raise the funds to deliver the best treatment possible to children on the autism spectrum around the world."
JENNY K
“The Golf Club” will be broadcasting the show live overlooking the Mok’s and the Koolau mountain range on May 14th. You are invited to come out and watch the top women golfers in Hawaii. Come out and learn a thing or two.
Speaking of learning, I have found the answer to having lovely fingernails.
Yes. It’s all part of feeling good and playing good.
The manicure is called “Cal Gel” and it’s done by Bev at Avance Salon. I’ve had manicures and nail coatings but none that have stayed and kept my nails strong. I have not broken a nail in 8 weeks and that’s a miracle. Call Bev at 942-4005.
See you “on top” the radio.
Thank you for your Mana and may you hit the sweet spot every time,
Danielle
PS You can hear “The Golf Club” radio show online at http://www.radiogolfclub.com/ or on one of these fine radio stations:
It’s “The Golf Club” show every Saturday morning at 7 AM on KGU FM 99.5 FM and KGU AM 760 AM on Oahu, KONI FM 104.7 on Maui , KTOH 99.9 FM on Kauai and on KPUA AM 670 in Hilo.
