Posted on: Thursday, June 10, 2004
GOLF BRIEFS
Group nearly hits $1M in donations for 2004
Advertiser Staff
When Friends of Hawai'i Charities, Inc. (FOHC) was formed in 1998, its ultimate goal was to raise $1 million annually. Six years later, the goal is almost reality.
Yesterday, FOHC distributed a record $900,000 to approximately 100 organizations for 2004. FOHC president Anthony Guerrero said his organization should reach the $1 million mark next year.
FOHC has distributed more than $4 million in its six-year history, with the help of its charity partner, The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc. The Weinberg Foundation has matched FOHC funds since the second year.
Grants range from $2,500 to $75,000 each year. Beneficiaries include HUGS, Special Olympics Hawai'i, Hina Mauka and several Project Graduation programs.
Funding is raised through several events including the Senior PGA Tour's Turtle Bay Championship, NFL Pro Bowl Golf Tournament and, primarily, the Sony Open in Hawai'i.
FOHC targets not-for-profit organizations that "support programs benefiting Hawai'i's children, youth, women and needy."
Wie gains support to play in Sony
The 2005 Sony Open in Hawai'i will be Jan. 13 through 16. It will be the 40th anniversary of the PGA Tour playing at Waialae Country Club.
Yesterday, Sony Hawai'i President Ryozo Sakai said "we are strongly recommending another sponsor exemption for Michelle Wie."
Wie missed the cut by a shot in January, becoming the first female to shoot under par at a PGA Tour event.
Women's Open sectional set
Hawai'i's inaugural U.S. Women's Open sectional will be Tuesday at Ko Olina Golf Club. Six local qualifiers will play for a place in the 2004 Open, July 1 through 4 at the Orchards Golf Club in Massachusetts.
The 36-hole sectional starts at 7:36 a.m., with golfers taking a break after the first round and going out again from 12:24 p.m.
Waiakea High junior Amanda Wilson won Hawai'i's first local qualifier last month, shooting 1-under-par 71 in windy conditions.
Former Jennie K. and state high school champion Kira-Ann Murashige, a Hilo High senior, also qualified along with Chie Yoshida of Japan, Hilo's Camie Hoshino and Ko-Chen Yeh from Taiwan. Honolulu's Julie Miyagi won a playoff for the last spot.
Honolulu's Michelle Wie received a special exemption directly into the Open from the U.S. Golf Association.
Seki, Kodama fall short in qualifying
Former state high school champion Parker McLachlin took time off the pro tour to come home and win Hawai'i's first U.S. Open Sectional qualifier Monday. Two other golfers with Hawai'i ties were not as fortunate on the Mainland.
Punahou graduate Jim Seki, who played for Stanford before turning pro, shot 74-75 at the Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, Calif., to come up six shots short. At Crosswater Country Club in Oregon, former UH-Manoa golfer Matt Kodama shot 73-86 to miss out.
A total of 8,726 entries were received by the U.S. Golf Association for the 104th U.S. Open, which will be June 17 to 20 at Shinnecock Hills in New York. Of those, 751 advanced to sectional qualifying at 13 sites, and played for 80 spots.
