Stubblefield chasing rare feat at Mid-Pacific Open

By Bill Kwon

Timing is almost everything in golf and nobody had it better timed than Larry Stubblefield when he won the Mid-Pacific Open last April. Stubblefield did it during the 75th anniversary of the Mid-Pacific Country Club and the day before he was inducted into the Hawai'i Golf Hall of Fame.

Larry Stubblefield has been honing his game at the O'ahu Country Club to defend his Mid-Pacific Open title. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

That's timing.

As the defending champion in the 72-hole event that begins today at the Lanikai layout, the primary thing he is concerned about this week is his golf swing; not with any history perspective.

Still, he would like nothing better than to become only the second golfer in the tournament's 44-year history to post back-to-back victories.

Only Lance Suzuki, who did it a remarkable three times (1977-'78, 1983-'84 and 1992-'93), has ever successfully defended the Mid-Pac Open title.

"Realistically, the odds are against it, whether it's Little League or the World Series. Repeats don't happen very much," said Stubblefield, adding that it is probably even more difficult in golf tournaments because almost every shot calls for an in-between club.

"A lot of things have to happen. A certain amount of luck is involved. I got a few bounces that went my way last year," said Stubblefield, who won by five strokes over three fellow professionals, including Suzuki, an eight-time Mid-Pac Open champion.

Two breaks came quickly to Stubblefield's mind. In the second round, his tee shot at the narrow, par-4 17th hit a tree in the left water hazard and bounced back into the fairway, saving him from a penalty stroke. In the third round, he holed out a wedge at the 10th hole for an eagle-2.

"Those kinds of things have to happen. Things have to go your way," Stubblefield said. "It's been a while since I've defended a title. But I'm comfortable with the golf course, I like the golf course. I anticipate playing well."

Stubblefield, who has shed a few pounds since last year, says he is nowhere near as skinny as he was when he first won the Mid-Pac Open in 1972 after graduating from Ohio State. That fall, he was the medalist in the PGA Tour's qualifying school.

Besides Stubblefield and Suzuki, this year's Mid-Pac field includes former champions Beau Yokomoto, Deron Doi, Casey Nakama and 1995 winner Brandan Kop, the last amateur to win the event.

Speaking of timing, two-time winner David Ishii had wanted to make a rare appearance in this year's event, but had to cancel in order to leave Sunday for the Japan tour. Ishii holds the tournament's 72-hole record with a 17-under-par 271 when he won in 1986. Greg Meyer's 8-under 64 en route to his 1989 victory is the record low round.

The seemingly untouchable Mid-Pac Open record, though, is held by Ron Castillo Sr., who recorded two aces in 1982 — the 11th hole in the opening round and No. 6 in the third round.

Doing the Makalena

Reader Harry Horita of Pearl City is glad that the city is spending money to improve the Ala Wai Golf Course by putting in new cart paths, but wonders why it is not doing more to upgrade the Makalena Golf Course.

Horita, 62, who plays twice a week with his University of Hawai'i and Kaimuki High classmates, points out that the golf course in Waipahu is named in honor of one of Hawai'i's greatest golfers, Ted Makalena. But it is an embarrassment to his name.

Well, the city is doing the Makalena. There is an ongoing $675,000 project to replace the irrigation system that the city hopes will improve the fairways, tees and greens at the second, third, fifth and sixth holes. Also, there will be a new water pumping station to tap the 5-million gallon reservoir that was built along with the new Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park. The entire project is expected to be completed by June 5.

Fed by Waikele Stream, the reservoir will provide the nonpotable water needed for both the soccer park and the golf course at considerable savings, according to Wayne Lee, the city's acting golf course system administrator.

The city had been paying $20,000 a month to the Board of Water Supply for its water, Lee said.

It's a start to the greening of the neglected municipal course.

Wishing Michelle well

It is great news that 12-year-old sensation Michelle Wie has received a sponsor's invitation to play in her second LPGA event, the Asahi Ryokuken International, in South Carolina on May 16-19.

Wie became the youngest Monday qualifier in LPGA history when she earned a spot in the LPGA Takefuji Classic at the Waikoloa Resort last month. She shot a 6-over-par 148 and missed the 36-hole cut.

Unfortunately, Wie won't be able to defend her title in the Jennie K. Invitational because it is during the same weekend as the tournament that is just across the Savannah River from the Augusta, in Georgia. The chance to play in an LPGA event is an offer she couldn't refuse, says her father, B.J. Wie.

Here's hoping Michelle makes the cut this time. There is a little-known LPGA rule she must be made aware of, though:

A sponsor's exemption, Monday qualifier or amateur who shoots over 87 automatically is pulled from the tournament.

It happened to amateur Karen Wilder, in the Office Depot Championship two weeks ago.

Bill Kwon can be reached at bkwon@aloha.net.