Kahikina, 86, pioneer of women's golf in state
Advertiser Staff
Ethel Kahikina, one of the pioneers in Hawai'i women's golf, died on April 24 at the age of 86.
A native of Kaua'i, Kahikina won six different women's tournaments during the 1960s, becoming the first golfer of Asian heritage to win the Kane'ohe Women's Invitational (1960), the Army Women's Invitational (1964) and the Navy-Marine Women's Invitational (1967).
She won at Kane'ohe a second time in 1967 and successfully defended her Navy-Marine crown in 1968. Kahikina also won the 1964 Hawaiian Women's Amateur, the 1960 Waialae Women's Invitational and the 1966 Oahu Country Club Women's Invitational.
"She was a good athlete who took up golf when she married and moved to O'ahu. She learned how to play golf from her husband, Simpson, and our brother (Jack)," said Sue Tokuda, Kahikina's sister.
Services will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Hosoi Garden Mortuary.
Big field expected for Hickam event
More than 200 amateurs will play in the 2004 Hickam Invitational this weekend. There are 48 in the Championship Flight, including defending champion Mark Chun.
The 54-hole tournament tees off at 6:39 a.m. tomorrow through Sunday at Hickam's Mamala Bay Course. The field will be cut in half Saturday night, with the leaders expected to finish around 1 p.m. Sunday.
The tournament was traditionally held in September, but moved to May this year to get away from the 9/11 time frame, when security will always be on high alert at the base.
Chun closed with a 75 last year to win with an even-par 216 total. That was a shot better than Joe Phengsavath, who has since turned pro. Gregg Omori and Shannon Sibayan, the 2002 Hickam champion, were two back.
Chun also won the HPLGA 4-Ball title last year, with partner Parker McLachlin. Chun suffered a stroke at the end of 1999 and won the 2002 Mayor's Cup in his return to competitive golf.
Former Manoa Cup champions Brandan Kop and Randy Shibuya are also in the field, along with Omori, Del-Marc Fujita and Clayton Gomi.
Kona Open gets title sponsor
Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa will be the title sponsor for the 2004 Kona Open. The tournament is being revived after a five-year absence. Kevin Hayashi won the last Kona Open, in 1999.
This year's tournament will be played May 29 and 30 at Kona Country Club's Ocean Course, site of the 2000 and 2001 LPGA Takefuji Classic.
The Sheraton is adjacent to Kona Country Club. It is currently undergoing a $45 million renovation and is scheduled to reopen in the fall.
Pros will play for a $12,000 purse in the 36-hole event. There will be Open/Championship, A and Women's Flights. Entry fee is $220 for pros, $180 for amateurs. Deadline is May 24.
For more information, call Jim Shaw on the Big Island (808) 322-2595.
U.S. Girls Junior qualifier June 25
The U.S. Girls' Junior qualifier will be June 25 at Mauna Lani Resort's Francis H. I'I Brown South Course. It is one of approximately 30 qualifiers for the national championship, to be played July 19i24 at Mira Vista Golf Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
Entries must be received by May 26. Entry fee is $20. The tournament is open to female amateurs age 17 and younger.
To obtain an entry application, call the USGA at (908) 234-2300 or download the form from usga.org.
Entrants must have a handicap index of 18.4 or less.
