Lynch surges into lead at Mid-Pacific Open
By Bill Kwon
Special to The Advertiser
LANIKAI — In a day of surprises, the biggest surprise wasn't the absence of three-time Mid-Pacific Open defending champion Regan Lee on the leaderboard.
Advertiser library photo • 2002
Rather, it was that one of the leaders trying to stop a bid by John Lynch to win the prestigious 72-hole championship is Randal Keola Gerell, an amateur who doesn't play any tournament golf except the event sponsored by his country club.
John Lynch, a pro at the Big Island's Kuki'o Golf & Beach Club, takes a five-stroke lead entering the final round of the Mid-Pacific Open.
Lynch took a comfortable five-stroke lead going into today's final round after shooting a 4-under-par 68 yesterday for a 54-hole total of 210.
Gerell, who shot a bogey-free 69, Ko Olina professional Kevin Carll and Ed Tischler are tied for second at 215. Carll posted an even par 72, while Tischler aced the par-3 11th hole en route to a 5-under 67, the low round of the day. (Leland Lindsay, a teaching pro at Luana Hills, also aced the 182-yard 11th hole.)
"Unbelievable," Gerell said about his flawless round after he birdied his final hole of the day, the par-4 ninth.
Informed that he would be playing with the leaders today, the 1995 Punahou School graduate was momentarily at a loss of words before saying, "I don't care what happens, I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts."
Kaua'i veteran Dan Nishimoto was alone at 216 following a 70 despite four-putting the island green at the par-5 fifth hole.
Lynch, who is with the Big Island's Kuki'o Golf & Beach Club after playing 10 events on the Hooters Tour last year, shook off a three-putt bogey at the par-3 11th as the championship field started on the back nine yesterday.
He then birdied 15, 16 and 17 to overtake first- and second-round leader Norman Ganin-Asao, who bogeyed four of the last five holes before the turn. Lynch threatened to run away from the field, birdieing four of his first five holes on his second nine, sinking putts of 15, 12, 8 and 10 feet.
"Everything was going good until the 15th hole (par-3 sixth)," said Lynch who found the left bunker and missed a 4-footer for par. He had 4-foot par saves at seven and eight but couldn't go up and down after missing the green right on the par-4 ninth to end the day with a bogey.
The putts weren't dropping for Carll, who missed four birdie chances, including 4-footers at the 10th and sixth holes.
"It was one of those frustrating rounds, where I couldn't make anything," he said.
No one was more frustrated than Makena Resort pro Brian Sasada, who didn't show up for his tee time with the leaders after shooting a 68 Friday that put him within two strokes of the lead.
A computer glitch had scheduled the leaders to be the first off the tee at 7 in the morning yesterday instead of last around two hours later.
Sasada called to ask what time the first championship group would be teeing off, assuming he would be among the leaders starting later, as is the usual practice in any golf tournament.
"My mistake, I only got myself to blame. Live and learn," Sasada said.
Asao struggled to a 77 and was at 218 with Champions Tour player Dave Eichelberger (72) and Kevin Hayashi (71). Lee was well back at 74—224.
The championship leaders will be last to tee off today, starting at 8:57 a.m.
