Annika Sorenstam commits to LPGA Takefuji Classic
Advertiser Staff
Annika Sorenstam finished second the first two years of the LPGA Takefuji Classic. When the tour opens this season at Takefuji — played at Waikoloa's Beach Course, Feb. 28-March 2 — she'll try to do herself one better.
One-upping last year might be tougher.
Sorenstam, who is on the latest commitment sheet, set or tied 30 records in 2001. Most memorably, she became the first woman to shoot a 59 in competition.
She will defend championships in four of her first five events, the exception being on the Big Island. A year ago, Canadian Lorie Kane fired a course-record 66 at Kona Country Club to win Takefuji by two shots over Sorenstam.
By the end of the season, Sorenstam had captured all three of the LPGA's performance awards (Player of the Year, Vare Trophy with a record 69.42 scoring average and money title with $2,105,868) and won eight times. The last player to win more was Nancy Lopez, with nine victories in 1979.
Se Ri Pak and Karrie Webb — who have not yet committed to Takefuji — followed Sorenstam on the money list. That trio won nearly half of the 2001 LPGA tournaments. Kane finished fourth on the money list.
Natalie Gulbis, the only American to earn fully exempt status at the 2001 LPGA Qualifying School, has also indicated she will play at Waikoloa. The 19-year-old from Sacramento, Calif., has a multi-year endorsement deal and shares a coach (Butch Harmon) with Tiger Woods. Gulbis was an All-American at the University of Arizona in her one collegiate season and turned pro last July.
Grace Park, No. 23 on last year's money list, is also on the latest commitment sheet. That gives Takefuji 13 of the top 25, along with LPGA Hall of Famer Betsy King and former University of Hawai'i golfer Cindy Flom.
This week, Takefuji announced it had given its exemptions to Japan pros Chieko Amanuma and Kasumi Fujii. Honolulu amateur Michelle Wie, a Punahou seventh-grader, was given a special invitation to play in the qualifying round.
Takefuji tickets will cost $10 for Tuesday's practice round and $15 daily Wednesday-Saturday. A $50 week-long pass will also be on sale. Free parking and shuttles will be available at Waikoloa resort.
• Hilo Invitational: Dean Wilson will defend his title at this weekend's Hilo Invitational at Hilo Muni. The tournament opens tomorrow with an 11 a.m. pro-am. Saturday's first round and Sunday's final round begin at 7 a.m.
The tournament purse is $15,000, with $5,000 going to the champion. Amateurs play for $4,400 in merchandise certificates.
Wilson finished at 13 under par last year (63-66—129) to win by six over Hilo Muni head pro Kevin Hayashi. Jarett Hamamoto was low amateur. All return this year, along with Mark and Phil Chun, David Ishii, Tommy Kim, Brandan Kop, Ryan Koshi, Reynold and Regan Lee, Greg Meyer, Casey Nakama, Jonathan Ota, Dean Prince, Randy Shibuya and Larry Stubblefield.
Camie Hoshino and Christel Tomori will also play in the professional flight, while 12-year-old Michelle Wie is competing in the amateur flight.
• O'ahu Juniors: Golfers ages 7-17 who would like to join the O'ahu Junior Golf Association must pass a Playing Ability Test (PAT). To sign up for a PAT, call 952-OJGA.
The ninth annual Guinea Kop Memorial Tournament, the OJGA's major fund-raising event, will be March 27 at Pearl Country Club. The tournament format is a three-person scramble and the cost is $425 per team ($260 tax deductible).
Entry deadline is March 14.
• Freitas honored: Hualalai Golf Club's John Freitas was named the 2001 PGA Merchandiser of the Year in the resorts category. Freitas' national honor is the second in as many years for Hawai'i pros. Wailea's Rick Castillo won the award for 2000.
Freitas, 35, grew up in Honolulu and is a 1988 graduate of Seattle Pacific University. He was elected to PGA membership in 1994 while working at Kapalua Resort. In 1995 Freitas was named head professional at Hualalai on the Big Island. He was named director of golf in 2000. The golf club features a golf shop with a sales floor of nearly 2,500 square feet.
• Two here are tops: Cathy Torchiana, Wailea Golf Club's LPGA teaching professional, and Kaua'i's Mary Bea Porter-King have been named to Golf for Women magazine's 2002 list of the "50 Top Teachers."
Torchiana coached the USC women's team before moving to Maui. Porter, who teaches at Puakea, played on the LPGA Tour and is co-founder and president of the Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association. She serves on the U.S. Golf Association Executive Committee.
Former Hawai'i and LPGA pro Cathy Mant, now at Eagle's Landing Country Club in Georgia, is also in the Top 50.
The list is in its third year. It is based on recommendations from peers, students and golf industry professionals recognizing the honoree's knowledge, methods and enthusiasm. The awards list will be published in the publication's March/April issue.
• Resorts strike gold: Hawai'i resorts received one third of the gold medals awarded by Golf Magazine in its February issue rating resorts across the country. Four more Hawai'i properties got silver.
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Kapalua Resort, Kaua'i Lagoons Resort/Kaua'i Marriott, Manele Bay Hotel, Mauna Lani Resort, Princeville Resort and Wailea Resort captured seven of the 22 gold medals awarded.
Maui Prince, Makena Resort and Mauna Kea Resort earned silver medals for 2001. There were 48 silvers given out.
The biennial survey was sent to 23,000 VIP subscribers. Resorts were graded by how they performed in certain categories, with 60 percent golf specific and 40 percent about meals, accommodations, service and other attributes.
