Nichols, Hinazumi get Aloha PGA honors

Advertiser Staff

Greg Nichols, former Waialae Country Club head golf professional and now new general manager and director of golf at the Ko Olina Golf Club, and Jay Hinazumi of Golf Concepts, Inc., each received two awards from the Aloha Section PGA at its annual recognition luncheon Monday at the Prince Hotel Waikiki.

Nichols was named the golf professional of the year and received the Junior Golf Leadership Award, while Hinazumi was presented the President's Award for his contributions to golf in Hawai'i besides being named the sales representative of the year.

Dr. Richard Ho, local representative of the United States Golf Association, received the Distinguished Service Award.

Merchandiser-of-the-year awards went to Marty Keiter, Kapalua Golf Club (resort); Dave Kowalczyk, Honolulu Country Club (private); and Mike Iyoki, U.S. Army courses (public and military).

Also, Ron Castillo Jr. (Hapuna), PGA player of the year; Ben Hongo (Kapalua Golf Club), teacher of the year; George Hutchison (Hickam Mamala Bay), assistant pro of the year; Dennis Rose, Turtle Bay Resort, Bill Strausbaugh Award for improving employment conditions for section professionals and apprentices.

Six awarded stipends

The Hawaii State Women's Golf Foundation awarded $5,000 travel stipends to six junior golfers who competed in the USGA Women's Amateur Public Links Championship in Oregon and the U.S. Junior Girls Championship in New Jersey this past summer.

The six are Michelle Wie and Stephanie Kono of Honolulu; Lisa Kajihara of Makawao, Maui; and Hilo's Whitney Ueno, Amanda Wilson and Kira Ann Murashige.