Phengsavath wins state stroke play title by one shot
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Joe Phengsavath had already won the unofficial title of "Mr. Congeniality" in local golf circles. Yesterday, he earned the official title of Hawai'i State Amateur Stroke Play Champion.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu
Phengsavath, a gregarious 26-year-old from Nu'uanu, shot a 2-under-par 70 at Pearl Country Club to win the four-day tournament by one stroke over Junior Agpaoa of Waikele. Phengsavath's 72-hole score was 2-under 286. Agpaoa, 36, shot a 71 yesterday and finished at 287. Pauoa's Clayton Gomi, 40, shot 73 and took third at 288.
Joe Phengsavath shot a final-round 70 to win the State Amateur Stroke Play title.
Michelle Wie, a 12-year-old Punahou seventh-grader, shot 80 and finished at 299.
Phengsavath began the day three strokes behind leader Norman-Ganin Asao and went out at 1-over 37, but on the back nine, he birdied two of the first three holes and two of the final three to come in at 3-under 33. Phengsavath sank a 15-foot right-to-left putt on 18 to put himself a stroke ahead of Agpaoa, who was playing one group behind.
Agpaoa hit his 125-yard approach from between two trees on 18 and left himself a 12-foot uphill putt to tie after the ball barely cleared a sand trap and rolled onto the green. But his putt stopped six inches short, giving Phengsavath his most prestigious title to date.
He won the O'ahu Country Club Men's Invitational in 2000.
"I just tried to play steady and give myself chances," Phengsavath said. "I three-putted 13 (for bogey), but I was still at even par. When I birdied 16, the pressure started there."
Agpaoa and Gomi appeared to feel it. On that same hole, a 194-yard par-3, Agpaoa stuck his drive to 10 feet but three-putted. Gomi had an 8-footer for birdie but pushed it and settled for par.
Gomi shot a 2-under 34 on the front nine but bogeyed five of the first six holes on the back.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu
"I knew where Joe was (on the leaderboard), and I knew where Junior was," Gomi said. "I think my nerves just got the best of me. My putting stroke disintegrated."
Michelle Wie finished 13 shots behind the winner.
Agpaoa got back into the hunt with a birdie on 17, but Phengsavath birdied 18 a few minutes later to take the lead back for good.
"I'm just a little fish in a big pond; I wasn't thinking too much about winning," said the 5-foot-3 Agpaoa. "I knew I wouldn't be back next year to defend the title anyway."
Agpaoa is on active duty in the Navy and is scheduled for a two-year overseas assignment.
"We just sent out a sub on Thursday, and some of the guys I trained were on it," Agpaoa said. "That gave me some adrenaline. Those guys are fighting for our freedom, so there's a lot more pressure on them than there is for me out here playing golf and trying to win a tournament. I was just having fun."
That seems to be Phengsavath's attitude no matter when or where he plays. Although he has been one of the state's top amateurs in recent years, he still can be spotted with weekend warriors at municipal courses like Ted Makalena or Ala Wai on a regular basis.
"I like it because that's how I meet people," Phengsavath said.
Even in the heat of battle on yesterday's back nine, Phengsavath would take time between holes to wave at friends or offer commentary on his game.
"Joe is like Lee Trevino," said Gomi, who works with Phengsavath at Kop Distributors. "He's a real social guy, he'll talk to anybody. He's like that at work, too."
But Gomi said like Trevino, Phengsavath is able to totally focus when he's standing over the ball.
"He deserves the win," Gomi said. "He works hard."
Tap-ins: Norman-Ganin Asao, who led Clayton Gomi by two strokes entering the day, shot an 82 and finished nine strokes back. ... Joe Phengsavath and Michelle Wie played in the same group. "It doesn't bother me; her parents are real nice," Phengsavath said. "This is a learning experience for her, so we want to help her get as much experience as she can. The way she hits the ball — she just has so much talent."
