Lee easily three-peats at Mid-Pacific Open

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

LANIKAI — Like a runaway Tiger, there was no catching Regan Lee on this Sunday.

'Aiea High and UH alum Regan Lee shot a 3-under 285 to win the Mid-Pacific Open by 11 strokes. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Lee, 28, began the day with a two-stroke lead and fought through Mid-Pacific Country Club's howling winds and tricky pin placements to card a final-round 70 (2 under par). He finished the tournament with a four-day score of 285, and at 3-under, he was the only golfer in the field to finish below par for the week.

"Everybody had a hard time, but I just struck the ball well and tried to get it under the wind," said Lee, who earned $7,500 for the victory. "I was putting for birdies when others were putting for par, and I had a lot of two-putt pars, which is OK. I don't mind (tough conditions) as long as everybody else has to go through it, too."

Nobody got through it the way Lee did. Kato had trailed by only two strokes entering the day but blew up with a 7-over 43 on the front, while Lee shot an even-36 to stay at 1-under for the championship. Professional rookie Joe Phengsavath of Nu'uanu also shot an even-par 36 on the front to stay five strokes back, but a bogey on No. 11 pushed him another stroke behind.

"By the 13th hole, he was six strokes up, so from there everybody was just playing for second place," said Phengsavath, who ended up with a 77 and in a tie for third place with Mark Takahama of Makiki and Casey Nakama of Kamehameha Heights at 9-over 297. "Today, Regan just played solid. The pin placements were wicked and it was very difficult for all of us to read the greens. But Regan likes this course, and he plays well here."

The course seemed to like Lee, too. On his final hole, the 412-yard, par-4 18th, Lee's approach stopped about 15 yards short of the uphill green. His chip shot then raced toward the hole and hit the pin, bounced up and landed on the rim, then dropped in for a birdie.

"The sooner the better," Lee said of the ending.

Lee is eager to get his pro career — now in its fifth year — into full swing. He has played in several Canadian Tour events and was on the Gateway mini-tour, but now has his sights set on Japan's Challenge Cup.

"It's a 10-tournament tour, kind of like the Nationwide (Tour)," Lee said. "If you do well there, you have a chance to get a (Japan) tour card. But I think it started this week, so I've already missed the first tournament, and the next one is in June. It's all based on rankings, and right now my ranking isn't too good."

The next two major events on Lee's schedule are the U.S. Open local qualifying and Kona Open, both in May. Lee acknowledged he was struggling with his game earlier this year but had put it together just in time for the Mid-Pacific Open.

"I've been feeling good the last month," Lee said. "It's mainly been adjusting the way I think about playing golf. If you turn pro, it's gotta be to compete. But when you're playing for money, it makes it tougher."

Lee and his wife, Wynne, live in Waikele with their 8-month-old daughter, Reyan. But besides the $7,500 paycheck, yesterday's victory was rewarding for its historical significance.

Lee's late grandfather, Guinea Kop, won four consecutive Campos Cup titles — the Mid-Pacific Open's predecessor — from 1951-54. Since then, only Lee and Lance Suzuki have won consecutive Mid-Pacific Open titles. Suzuki won it back-to-back in 1977-78, 1983-84 and 1992-93.

"It's really neat when someone says you made history," Lee said.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.