Mauna Kea golf pro doubles up on O'ahu

By Bill Kwon
Special to The Advertiser

Scott Bridges, Mauna Kea's head golf professional, pulled off a unique double earlier this week.

Bridges tried to qualify for the Sony Open in Hawai'i in the Aloha Section PGA's member-only qualifying at the Waialae Country Club Monday — less than 24 hours after running in the Honolulu Marathon. Bridges didn't qualify for the Sony Open, but ran the marathon in five hours and eight minutes.

"Probably my first and last," said Bridges. "By the time I was in my first mile, the Kenyan guy was in his third mile."

Running a marathon was the culmination of a weight-loss program for Bridges, who shed 45 pounds in two years.

Fellow Big Island pro Jay Taise had told Bridges back then that he was "fat."

Bridges said that comment motivated him.

Kaua'i's Wise to New Mexico State

Kaua'i High's Lehua Wise, Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association girls player of the year, received a scholarship to New Mexico State and will enroll in the university's professional golf management program.

"Lehua is an extremely talented player who has a tremendous work ethic and an ever-growing mental command of the game," said Kellie Pleas, Wise's high school coach.

Wise was recruited by New Mexico State coach Joann Cox, who saw her play in the Girls' Junior America's Cup last summer in Boise, Idaho.

"It's exciting to be joining such a quality program at such a great university," says Wise, who played in the PGA Grand Slam pro-am with Tiger Woods for the past two years.

"Tiger congratulated me on my scholarship to New Mexico State," Wise said.