Golf briefs
Advertiser Staff
Firefighter leads Amatour qualifiers
The Amatour Hawaii Tour got off to a rousing start with 120 players competing for the top 60 spots for the five remaining tournaments on the 2002 schedule.
Kenny Tenn, a 31-year-old Honolulu firefighter, led all qualifiers with a final-round 68 for a 4-under-par 140 in the 36-hole qualifying at the Makaha Resort Golf Course last weekend.
He won by two strokes over Earl Medeiros, a Wai'anae High School junior who had teamed with pro Brad Faxon to win the First Hawaiian Bank Pro/Junior Golf Challenge during the week of the Sony Open in Hawai'i.
A quadruple bogey at the par-5 12th hole in the second round cost Medeiros the victory. The day before, the long-hitting youngster hit a driver and wedge to birdie the hole.
"It's great," Tenn said about the new amateur tour. "It gives us more exposure to play under tournament conditions."
A two-sport athlete at Kailua High School, Tenn only took up the game seriously five years ago. He made the cut in the State Amateur earlier this month.
The next event, sponsored by City Fender, is scheduled for April 6-7 at the Luana Hills Country Club. The Aloha Shoyu Ko'olau Challenge at the Ko'olau Golf Course has been moved back a week to avoid a conflict with the Hickam Amateur scheduled for Sept. 13-15.
Maui Open increases purse
The 54-hole Maui Open, scheduled for May 31 to June 2, will boost its purse to $20,000 and the pro and championship golfers will be playing at only one course — the Makena South — instead of three different courses as in previous years.
The A-flight competition will be at Kapalua Village, Ka'anapali South and Wailea Blue, while the B-flighters will play the Ka'anapali South, Kapalua Village and Wailea Emerald courses.
Cost of the tournament is $250 and it includes the award luncheon afterward.
Tickets on sale for Grand Slam
Tickets for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf are on sale at www.pga.com or by calling (800) PGA-TCKT.
Tiger Woods has won a record four consecutive Grand Slams, all at Po'ipu Bay Resort on Kaua'i. The 2002 Slam will be Nov. 25-27 at Po'ipu, with the winners of this year's four majors invited. The Masters, the year's first major, will be played next month.
The foursome will participate in a pro-am on Monday (Nov. 25), followed by 36 holes of stroke play Tuesday and Wednesday.
Woods and Greg Norman are the only players to earn five invitations to the Grand Slam.
Upcoming events
• Na Koa tournament: The 8th annual Hawaiian Airlines Na Koa Ed Wong Memorial Golf Tournament is April 23 at Hawai'i Prince Golf Club. The tournament, a three-person scramble, is a benefit for the University of Hawai'i football program. Entry fee is $175 per player, $525 for a team. The entry fee includes green fees, cart, lunch and dinner. Coach June Jones, his staff and former Warriors will be on hand. For more infomration, call 956-4513.
• Dick Tomey benefit gathering: The first Dick Tomey Golf Gathering for the Sex Abuse Treatment Center will be held May 13 at Olomana. Cost is $95 before April 1 and $105 before April 20. The fee includes pupu reception and prizes. For information: 946-5315 or e-mail pav@punahou.edu
• Back for more: The second annual David S. Ishii Foundation Golf Tournament will be June 5, at Pearl Country Club. Registration deadline is May 17.
Last year's inaugural event raised nearly $50,000 for the foundation, which sponsors the state high school golf championships, scholarships and other events for juniors.
Cost is $250 per golfer, or $750 per team. Sponsorships are also available. For more information, call 754-7576 or e-mail Dlishiious@aol.com.
