AROUND THE GREENS
Amateurs, pros set sights on local events

By Bill Kwon

Michelle Wie will participate in the women's Jennie K. tournament this year, after skipping the 2002 edition. She won the 2001 event. Advertiser library photo • Feb. 9, 2003

Greg Meyer launched the Hawai'i season with a victory in 25th anniversary Hawai'i Pearl Open, the first of the local majors.

Listed at right is the local golf calendar for the rest of the year with telephone numbers for more information.

The other local men's majors are the Mid-Pacific Open (in its traditional April time slot), the Mililani Rainbow Open, moved to July this year, the AT&T Stroke Play Championship in September, and the Hawai'i State Open, which will be played this year at the Hapuna Golf Course on the Big Island in November.

The amateurs can once again point to their own "biggies" — the Hawai'i State Amateur next month, the State Match Play Championship or the Manoa Cup in June, the Hickam Amateur in September, and the Governor's Cup against the pros in November. The Amatour Hawai'i has also lined up seven tournaments for its second season.

The Army Amateur will be Aug. 8-10. The Barbers Point Invitational is mulling the possibility of co-hosting a Navy Invitational sometime in late August in conjunction with the Navy-Marine Golf Course, which again won't be holding the Navy-Marine Invitational.

For the women, their majors are the Jennie K. Invitational in May, the Hawai'i State Women's Golf Association Match Play Championship in June, the HSWGA Stroke Play Championship in August and the Hawai'i State Open in November.

Some good news and bad news for the ladies. First the bad: Michelle Wie will play in the Jennie K. after a year's absence. She became its youngest winner in 2001 at the age of 11. But she will skip the HSWGA match play and stroke play events. And she'll compete in the men's division in the State Open after winning the women's title by 13 strokes last year.

The pros again to watch will be Regan Lee, who plans on defending his title in the Mid-Pac Open before playing on the Gateway Arizona mini-tour again this summer; Pearl Country Club's Kevin Hayashi, who won three Aloha Section PGA events; and Ron Castillo Jr., the section's 2002 Player of the Year, who won both the stroke-play and match-play titles. But be on the lookout for sleeper pick Kevin Carll, if he can get away from some of his duties as the head golf professional at the Ko Olina Golf Club.

Joe Phengsavath figures to be the amateur player to beat again as he tries for his second straight state amateur title next month. Look for him to be the favorite in the Manoa Cup, won last year by Travis Toyama, at 15, the youngest to win Hawai'i's oldest golf tournament, which was first held in 1907.

Future stars to keep tabs on include high school and junior golf standouts Amanda Wilson and her brother, Gabriel, both of Waiakea High School in Hilo; Kamehameha's Mari Chun, Punahou's Lindsay Hong, Kira-Ann Murashige, the Jennie K. defending champion; three-time Junior World qualifier Kurt Nino of Damien High, and Stephanie Kono, like Wie, still too young to play for the Punahou golf team.

The future, though, is now for the 13-year-old Wie, whose personal golf calendar in 2003 is almost overbooked.

Thanks to a new policy just adopted by the LPGA that increases a player's sponsor's exemptions from four to six a year, she will be playing in at least five women's tour events. There could be a sixth, according to her father, B.J.

Michelle received exemptions to play in the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic in Ohio, Aug. 14-17. and the Safeway Classic in Portland, Ore., Sept. 26-28, adding to the three that she already accepted to play — the Kraft Nabisco Championship next month in California, the Chick-fil-A Classic in Georgia, April 25-27, and the ShopRite LPGA Classic in New Jersey, June 27-29.

That's not counting the Golf Channel's invitation to play in two Canadian men's tour events.

Her crowded date book starts with the Hawai'i State Amateur, playing with the men March 13-16 at Pearl Country Club. Then the Jennie K. and the Manoa Cup, depending if it doesn't conflict with any qualifying for the USGA events she plans to enter — the U.S. Women's sectionals if she makes the local qualifying, the U.S. Girls and the U.S. Women's Amateur.

As a semifinalist last year, Wie is exempt for the national women's Public Links Championship in Florida.

She's also hoping to qualify for the men's national public links championship as well.

In between all of the events, Wie hopes to play in the Maui Open and the men's division of the Hawai'i State Open.

All with the goal, she says, of earning points to become the first of her gender to make the Governor's Cup amateur team.

"I think it's fun. I think I'll play good," Wie said about the coming year.

Bill Kwon can be reached at bkwon@aloha.net.

2003 Schedule

February

19-21—John A. Burns Intercollegiate (Leilehua, UH 956-4527). 22-23—Hilo Invitational (Hilo Muni, 959-9601). 22-23, March 1-2—HPLGA 4-Ball (Makalena, 734-4662).

March

9-10—Big Island Candies Scotch 4-Ball (Hapuna, 593-2230 on O'ahu). 13-16—Hawai'i State Amateur Stroke Play Championship (Pearl CC, 487-3802). 18-19—Dr. Donnis Thompson Rainbow Wahine Invitational (Kane'ohe Klipper, 956-4333). 26-27— Wilson/ProLink/GolfSwitch Pro-Pro Championship (Ko Olina, 593-2230). 29-30—Amatour Qualifier at Makaha Resort Golf Club (351-2499). 31—HSWGA Two Partner/Better Ball (Kapolei, 589-2046).

April

10-13—Mid-Pacific Open (261-9765). 21-23—WAC Women's Championship (Kapolei, UH 956-4333). 26-27—Amatour at Coral Creek. 28—Hall of Fame Luncheon (Hawai'i Prince Hotel, 593-2230).

May

3-5—Verizon Hawai'i Hall of Fame Championship (Kapalua Plantation, 593-2230 on O'ahu). 5-6—U.S. Open sectional qualifying (Ko Olina, 589-2909). 9-10—David S. Ishii Foundation Hawai'i State Girls High School Championship (Waikoloa Beach, 587-4495). 10—U.S. Amateur Public Links O'ahu Qualifier (Ala Wai, 589-2046). 10 (tentative)—U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links O'ahu Qualifier (Ala Wai, 589-2046). 10-11,17-18—52nd annual Francis Brown 4-Ball (Ala Wai, 589-2046). 16-17—David S. Ishii Foundation Hawai'i State Boys High School Championship (Waikoloa Kings', 587-4495). 16-18—Jennie K. Wilson Invitational (Mid-Pacific, 261-9765). 20—U.S. Women's Open local qualifying (Ko Olina, 589-2046). 22-23—HSGA Senior Amateur Championship (Mid-Pacific, 589-2046). 24—U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Kaua'i Qualifier (Wailua, 245-6245). 24-25—Amatour at Hawai'i Prince. 24-25—Noe Noe Women's Invitational (Volcano, 589-2046 on O'ahu). 26-27—Hawai'i All-Star Invitational (Olomana, 259-7712). 30-June 1—Maui Open (TBA). 31—U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Maui Qualifier (Kapalua, 589-2046 on O'ahu); O'ahu Qualifier (Ala Wai).

June

2-7—Manoa Cup State Amateur Match Play (O'ahu CC, 595-3256). 6—U.S. Senior Open local qualifier (Mid-Pacific, 589-2909). 9-10—Junior World Qualifier (Big Island TBA, 532-0559). 12-13—Aloha Section Jr. PGA Championship, 13-17 at Turtle Bay and 12-under at Naniloa CC (593-2230). 14—U.S. Amateur Public Links, O'ahu Qualifier (Ala Wai, 733-7387). 18-19—USGA Junior Girls Championship Qualifier (Wailua, 532-0559 on O'ahu). 19-20—Optimist Hawai'i Qualifier (Makaha Valley, 532-0559). 20-21—Moanalua Invitational (532-0559). 20-22—Ashworth Kapalua Clambake (Plantation, Bay and Village, 669-8802). 21-22—Amatour at New 'Ewa Beach. 23-24—USGA Junior Boys Championship Qualifier (Po'ipu Bay, 532-0559 on O'ahu). 23-27—HSWGA Match Play Championship (OCC, 589-2046). 27—Pearl President's Cup (Pearl CC, 487-3802). 30-July 3—Aloha Section Match Play and Senior Match Play Championships (Turtle Bay, 593-2230).

July

1-2—Callaway Hawai'i State Junior Championship (Hawai'i Prince, 532-0559). 3-6—Mauna Kea Pro-Am (882-5400). 10-12—O'ahu Country Club Men's Invitational (595-3256). 14-15—Waialae Women's Invitational (732-1457). 15 (tentative)—USGA Women's Amateur Hawai'i Qualifier (Mid-Pacific CC, 589-2046). 17-18—Pua Melia Invitational (Olomana, 259-7926). 17-20—Rainbow Open (Mililani, 623-2222). 21-22—Aloha Section Club Pro Senior Championship (O'ahu TBA, 593-2230). 21-22—OJGA/Waikele Junior Invitational (ages 12-under, 952-OJGA). 26-27—Amatour at Kapolei. 28—U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifying (Turtle Bay, 589-2909). 28-29—OJGA/Pearl Junior Open (ages 13-18, 952-OJGA).

August

1-3—Big Island Amateur (Waikoloa, 886-7888). 2-3—Maui Women's Invitational (TBA, 589-2046 on O'ahu). 4-5—Aloha Section Club Pro Senior Championship (Hokuli'a, 593-2230 on O'ahu). 5-7—HSWGA Stroke Play Championship (Mid-Pacific CC, 589-2046). 8-10—U.S. Army-Hawai'i Invitational (Kalakaua and Leilehua, 656-0114). 12—USGA Senior Women's Qualifier (Honolulu CC, 589-2046). 12—U.S. Senior Qualifier (OCC, 589-2909). 18-19—Aloha Section PGA Assistants Championship (Ko Olina, 593-2230). 25—HSWGA Senior Championship (Waikele, 589-2046). 30-31—Hapuna Roundup (880-3000).

September

7-10—AT&T Stroke Play Championship (Mauna Kea, 593-2230). 9—USGA Women's Mid-Amateur Qualifier (Mid-Pacific CC, 589-2046). 9—USGA Mid-Amateur Qualifier (Honolulu CC, 589-2909). 13-14—Korean Invitational (Pali, 266-7612). 19-21—Hickam AFB Amateur Invitational (Mamala Bay, 449-6490). 20-21—HSWGA State Tournament (Maui TBA, 589-2046). 25-28—Waikoloa Open (Waikoloa Village, 883-9621). 25-29—HSWGA Las Vegas Adventure (589-2046). 27-28—Mayor's Cup (Ala Wai, 734-4662). 29—Turtle Bay Championship Qualifying (Champions Tour, 593-2230).

October

3-5—Turtle Bay Championship (Champions Tour, 593-2230). 17-19—Waikoloa Executive Women's Challenge (589-2046). 17—PGA Classic (Hawai'i Prince, 593-2230). 18-19—Amatour at Kane'ohe Klipper. 20-22—Golf Concepts 4-Ball Match Play Championship (Oahu CC, 593-2230). 25-30—HSWGA Las Vegas Tournament (TBA, 589-2046 on O'ahu).

November

3-4—Oahu Country Club Senior Men's Invitational (595-3256). Nov. 8-9—Amatour at Honolulu CC. 14-16—Hawai'i State Open (Hapuna, 593-2230 on O'ahu). 23-25—Gov. John Burns Challenge Cup (Mid-Pacific CC, 526-2266).

December

2-3—E-Z-Go Head Pro-Assistant Championship (Hualalai, 593-2230 on O'ahu). 6-7—HSJGA Tournament of Champions (Wailea TBA, 532-0559 on O'ahu). 6-7—Lea Lea Club-Big Island Rally for a Cure (TBA, 589-2046). 7—Aloha Section annual meeting (Hawai'i Prince Hotel, 593-2232). 8—Aloha Section PGA/Sony Open Member Qualifying (Waialae CC, 593-2230). 15-17—PGA Grand Slam (Po'ipu Bay, 742-8711).

January 2004

8-11—Mercedes Championships (PGA at Kapalua Plantation, 669-8877). 12—Sony Open Qualifying (Pearl CC, 523-7888). 15-18—Sony Open in Hawai'i (PGA at Waialae CC, 523-7888). 30-Feb. 1—ConAgra Foods Champions Skins and LPGA Skins Game (Wailea Gold, 875-7450).