No Mid-Pacific Open chance for Wie

By Bill Kwon

Michelle Wie's age and gender-bending exploits won't continue in next month's Mid-Pacific Open. The private country club's golf committee turned down the 12-year-old's entry to play in the 72-hole tournament.

"Our official position is that it's a male-only tournament," said Hal Okita, the club's general manager. "We have a female-only tournament in the Jennie K."

Wie, the youngest player to win the Jennie K. last year as a Punahou School sixth-grader, became the first female to qualify for the Manoa Cup last summer. Last month, Wie became the first female to play in the Hawai'i Pearl Open and the youngest Monday qualifier in history for an LPGA event, the LPGA Takefuji Classic.

Last week, she played in the 72-hole State Amateur for the second consecutive year and was in contention going into the final round before finishing 19th place.

Her father, B.J. Wie, was disappointed by Mid-Pac's decision.

"Michelle was very much interested in playing in this year's Mid-Pac Open. The primary objective of her plan is to gain more experience. I strongly believe that the best way to improve her game is to play in open tournaments, as many as possible," said Wie, adding that there has not been a local women's tournament since October.

It is a delicate issue. But because of the country club's strong support of local golf by hosting the Mid-Pac Open and Jennie K. Invitational for the past 40 years, as well as allowing the use of its course for the HSWGA Stroke Play Championship and the Governor's Cup in recent years, one has to respect Mid-Pac's decision.