Local golf scene heats up with tournaments
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i golf surges into overdrive in the next three months. Between this week's Hawai'i State Open and the 25th annual Hawai'i Pearl Open in February, there will be a half-dozen pro tour events in the islands.
The schedule looks like this:
• Hawai'i State Open, today (pro-am)-Sunday at MAkena South: Field of 114 pros, including David Ishii and Cindy Rarick, play for $47,000. Last year's champions were Kevin Hayashi (open), Sally Soranaka (women), Dean Prince (seniors) and Casey Kobashigawa (amateurs).
No admission charge. Information: 593-2230 on O'ahu.
• PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Nov. 26-27 at Po'ipU Bay Resort Course: Major champions Tiger Woods (Masters, U.S. Open) and Rich Beem (PGA Championship), and alternates Justin Leonard and Davis Love III play for $1 million. Woods has won the past four Slams.
Tickets are $40 for three-day season pass, $10 Monday (Pro-Am), $20 Tuesday or Wednesday. Children 17-under free with ticket-bearing adult. Tickets available in advance by calling (800) PGA-TCKT, or via the internet (pga.com).
• Mercedes Championships, Jan. 9-12 at Kapalua Plantation: Sergio Garcia defends his title against an elite field of 2002 winners. The PGA Tour's season-opening event has a $5 million purse.
Season tickets (Jan. 6-12) are $50 until Dec. 23 and $70 after. Three-day practice round tickets (Monday-Wednesday) $20. Daily prices $20 Thursday or Friday, $30 Saturday or Sunday. Children (16-under) free with ticket-holding adult.
Tickets can be purchased at all Kapalua golf shops, The Honolua Store, The Logo Shop, all Activity World outlets, the customer service desk at the Lahaina Cannery Mall and the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center information booth. Also, by phone through Ticketmaster (877) 804-0472 or internet at pgatour.com or ticketmaster.com.
• Sony Open in Hawai'i, Jan. 16-19 at Waialae Country Club: Jerry Kelly defends his championship in the PGA Tour's first full-field event of the year. Others who have already made plans to play include Sergio Garcia and Retief Goosen. The tournament purse is up to $4,500,000 this year, with the winner getting $810,000.
Tickets go on sale later this month at Ticket Plus outlets, all First Hawaiian Bank O'ahu branches and through 26 non-profit organizations. Admission is $10 daily for advance tickets and $15 at the gate. A season badge, good for all five days, is $35 in advance and $50 at the gate. Children 12-under are free when accompanied by an adult.
Information: 523-7888.
• ConAgra Foods Champions (Senior) Skins Game, Jan. 25 at Wailea Gold: The foursome, to be announced later this month, plays for $600,000.
Tickets will be $25, or $10 for Friday's Champions/LPGA Pro-Am. Children 12-under free when accompanied by adult. Tickets available later this year at Wailea Golf Club pro shops, other Maui outlets, via mail-order and online at SkinsGamesSeries.com. A brochure with mail-order form is available by calling (800) 332-1614 or (808) 879-4461.
• ConAgra Foods LPGA Skins Game, Jan. 26 at Wailea Gold: The foursome, to be announced later this month, plays for $600,000.
Tickets will be $25, or $10 for Friday's Champions/LPGA Pro-Am. Children 12-under free when accompanied by adult. Tickets available later this year at Wailea Golf Club pro shops, other Maui outlets, via mail-order and online at SkinsGamesSeries.com. A brochure with mail-order form is available by calling (800) 332-1614 or (808) 879-4461.
• MasterCard Championship, Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at HualAlai Golf Club: The Champions (formerly Senior PGA) Tour opens its season by bringing together winners from the last two seasons, major champions from the past five years and four invited pros (with 30 or more victories). The purse is $1.5 million. Defending champion is Tom Kite.
Tickets are $10 daily or $25 for a tournament pass. Available at the gate or by calling 800-417-2770. Children 12-under free with ticket-bearing adult. A special 2-for-1 tournament pass package is also available in advance.
• Hawai'i Pearl Open, Feb. 7-9 at Pearl Country Club. Top pros from Hawai'i, Japan and the Mainland compete for $80,000. Japan pro Kiyoshi Murota is defending champion.
No admission charge.
