Posted on: Sunday, January 4, 2004
GOLF
Hawai'i will host U.S. Open qualifier
| • | 2004 Hawai'i Golf Schedule |
By Bill Kwon
Special to The Advertiser
It should be an interesting year of golf locally, judging by the accompanying schedule of tournaments (below).
Through the efforts of Kaua'i's Mary Bea Porter-King, a member of the USGA executive committee, Hawai'i will be host of a U.S. Open men's sectional qualifying for the first time. It is scheduled for June 7 and 8 at Turtle Bay's Palmer Course after local qualifiers at Ka'anapali North, Po'ipu Bay and Turtle Bay.
Having a U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Hawai'i will mean local golfers won't have to go to the Mainland to qualify, said Porter-King, who hopes a good turnout will ensure future sectional qualifiers. This year's U.S. Open will be played at Shinnecock Hills, in Southampton, N.Y.
Another new wrinkle on this year's golf calendar is the Hickam Amateur Invitational, which has been held in September for years, but is moving to May (7 to 9).
"We wanted to get away from the 9/11 period. It will always be a big alert posture on base at that time," said Tom Stanfill, Mamala Bay golf pro. "I think it'll be for the better, and the greens are in better shape at that time of the year."
Back after a year's absence is the Moanalua Women's Invitational, which has had a proud history of being the first women's tournament locally. It was first played in 1948, two years before the Jennie K. Invitational.
Gone this year is the Turtle Bay Championship, won by Hale Irwin the past three years. For Irwin, it will be wait till next year, when the Champions Tour event is expected to return the week following the MasterCard Championship at Hualalai.
