Posted on: Friday, April 11, 2003

Lee opens with a 68 to top Mid-Pac

Advertiser Staff

Defending champion Regan Lee fired a 4-under-par 68 yesterday to take a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the $25,000 Mid-Pacific Open golf championship at the Mid-Pacific Country Club in Lanikai.

Fellow professionals Tommy Ukauka and Kevin Hayashi were two strokes behind at 70.

Former champion Larry Stubblefield (1972 and 2001), Philip Chun, Brady Yokooji and amateur Mark (Philip's brother) Chun were at 71.

At even par 72 were pros Aaron Chun, Jerry Mullen, Kevin Carll and Andrew Feldmann, and amateurs Jonathan Ota, Brandan Kop (who won here in 1995) and Parker McLachlin.

Lee won last year with a 16-under 272, one shot off the tournament record set by David Ishii in 1986.

The tournament is dedicated to Bob Togikawa, Mid-Pacific's longtime course superintendent who retired recently.

The second round will be played today starting at 6:30 a.m. off the first and 10th tees.

The pro and championship field, and A and B flights will be cut in half after today's round.

The final two rounds will tee off at 7 a.m. tomorrow and Sunday.