HOLES IN ONE
Tournament brings together Hawai'i aces

By Baxter Cepeda
Advertiser Staff Writer

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Wanted: Aces with story to tell Was it a perfect shot? Was it blind luck? Did you judge the wind? Did you just hack away? Tell us about your experience shooting a hole in one. Fax or e-mail your hole-in-one experience and you could be featured in The Advertiser's Golf Report. Stories must be typed and brief, around 50-100 words. They must include the date, course, hole, yardage and club selection. Return phone numbers must be listed. Holes in one must have been reported to The Advertiser by golf courses. Fax submissions to 525-5491, or e-mail to: sports@HonoluluAdvertiser.com.

Higa invented the KEC $1,000,000 Hole-In-One Challenge, a tournament in which Hawai'i residents who have made an ace can play.

Proceeds from the event benefit KEC, which helps schools in the Kalihi district.

Higa, who said he believes Hawai'i's drug and economic problems will be reduced as youths are given more educational opportunities, fostered the idea for the event in an attempt to increase awareness about the coalition.

"We wanted to get people's attention before getting the message out," Higa said. "We are focused on building character, integrity and accountability."

Higa added that golf and KEC have similar values, making it a perfect match.

"That's the hidden message," he said.

A lot of aces in Hawai'i

According to Higa, there are about 12,000 Hawai'i residents who have made a hole in one.

"It is an exclusive tourney for hole-in-one golfers," Higa said. "What I wanted to create was a place to rub shoulders with all the other hole-in-one guys in Hawai'i ... with a chance to be the Hawai'i hole-in-one champion (and) get their 15 minutes of fame."

He expects 3,000 to 5,000 dreamers to pay the $100 fee for an opportunity at big money and bragging rights for a year.

"It's amazing the positive feedback we have received from the community," said Higa. Former Miss Hawai'i winners Tracy Toguchi and Denby Dung have offered to host the entertainment portion of the contest during the final round, which will be at Hawai'i Prince Golf Club on Sept. 20.

Unique contest

To qualify for the final, which will have at least five golfers, participants must make it through preliminary rounds that will be held at courses around the state starting Aug. 23.

Proof of an ace is required to join. Newspaper clippings are accepted as proof, and aces on par-3 courses are welcome. Contestants must be U.S. citizens and Hawai'i residents.

No money will be rewarded for making an ace during qualifying.

The five competitors closest to the pin on similar 125-yard holes during qualifying will advance to the final. (If more than five contestants make an ace, all will advance to the final).

The final will reward contestants $1 million even if more than one person makes an ace.

The prize money is not a concern for KEC; it is covered by a $10 million insurance policy.

And if more than 10 competitors are in the final, there's time to boost the policy's coverage.

"We want them to win," Higa said.

The difficulty increases for the final. Men will have a 165-yard shot and women 150 yards on a hole that the Hawai'i Prince built just for this event.

If no one makes an ace in the final, the competitor closest to the pin will receive a championship jacket, a trophy and a round-trip ticket to Tokyo, along with other prizes.

Finalists will also each get a putt from 60 feet and a chip from 20 yards at a chance to win $10,000.

Anyone not interested in the prizes because they want to retain their amateur status must sign off before swinging.

For a good cause

Robert Patrocinio, who grew up in Kalihi, said he'll do anything for the cause, but signing off the winnings is a little too much to ask.

"I gotta go for the million," Patrocinio, 65, said. "I don't have a house. ... I'll donate some."

Pat Hamamoto, Department of Education superintendent, has made an ace and plans to compete.

Hamamoto's presence is fitting for an event that benefits 12 Farrington complex schools, Honolulu Community College, Hana Hou Service Learning Project and other services related to education.

Those who have not made an ace still have an opportunity to qualify. They can pay KEC $5 for each day they plan to golf before the start of qualifying, and if an ace is made on one of those days, they automatically qualify. Those who do not pay the $5 and shoots an ace before qualifying also are elibible, but must pay the $100 entry fee.

The event will include a team-putting contest for money between schools. Each school will have five participants, consisting of a principal, a teacher, a student, a celebrity and a top amateur golfer from Hawai'i.