The 42nd annual Oahu Country Club Men's Invitational starts this morning. Seventy players will compete for the individual championship through Saturday. The field is cut in half after tomorrow's second round.

The team championship will be contested over the first two days. Format is five-player teams with the best four scores used each day.

Jonathan Ota will not be able to defend his championship because of his participation in the U.S. Public Links Championship.

Former champions Brandan Kop (1998) and Eric Sonnenberg (1988 and '99) are playing this year, along with Manoa Cup champions Travis Toyama (2002, '05), Ryan Perez (2004) and Kellen-Floyd Asao (2003). Others in the field include Clayton Gomi, Shannon Tanoue, Del-Marc Fujita, Jarett Hamamoto, Mathew Ma and Alvin Okada.

Play begins at 6:45 a.m. today and tomorrow, and 12:30 p.m. Saturday, with the leaders expected to finish by 6 p.m.

KOBAYASHI, SHEFFIELD GIVEN ITO/GEE AWARDS

Christopher Kobayashi and Sarah Sheffield are the recipients of the 2004-2005 Monte Ito and Bill Gee Scholarship Awards. The $1,500 awards are sponsored by the Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin, and honor the memory of the late sportswriters.

The David S. Ishii Foundation administers the program, which honors Hawai'i students with "outstanding achievements and/or potential in journalism and a sincere appreciation of golf." The awards are based on an essay.

Sheffield, who just finished her freshman year at Gonzaga, joins former 'Aiea and Nebraska golfer Merynn Ito as the only multiple winners. The 2004 Kea'au High School valedictorian also earned the honor last year. Sheffield finished 22nd at the West Coast Conference Championships this spring.

Kobayashi recently finished his sophomore year at the University of Northern Colorado. He captained McKinley's golf team his final two years (2002 and '03) and was a two-time selection to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association second team. He also finished fourth at the 1994 Junior Worlds.

Kobayashi, planning to graduate with degrees in journalism and English, spent last summer working for Shipyard Log, a weekly magazine for Pearl Harbor employees.

Sheffield and Kobayashi each has a cumulative grade point average of better than 3.8.

All Hawai'i high school seniors and Hawai'i high school graduates with at least one year of school remaining are eligible for the awards.

ENTRIES AVAILABLE FOR RARICK JUNIORS TOURNEY

The first 80 entries received by the July 15 deadline will be eligible to play in the 14th annual Cindy Rarick Waikoloa Junior Invitational, sponsored by the Big Island Junior Golf Association.

The tournament will be July 24 at Waikoloa's Kings' Course. Rarick, a former Rainbow Wahine who now represents Waikoloa Resort on the LPGA tour, donates prizes.

Players will be divided into six age divisions, from 6-under to 15-to-17. There will be a long drive and putting contest at 8:30 a.m., with the tournament starting at noon.

Members of junior associations from the Big Island, O'ahu, Kaua'i and Maui are eligible to play. Call Chester Park (808-959-4544 on the Big Island) for more information.

Waikoloa is also the site of a Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association tournament for players 12 and under, Sept. 10 (Beach Course) and 11 (Kings'). It is open to the first 40 players to register at HSJGA.

RARICK HOSTS WAIKOLOA WOMEN'S CHALLENGE

The fourth annual Waikoloa Women's Golf Challenge will be Oct. 21 to 23 on the Beach and Kings' courses. LPGA pro, and Waikoloa representative, Cindy Rarick hosts the weekend.

The Challenge provides a two-day tournament, special amenities and activities and a clinic. It supports the Hawai'i State Women's Golf Foundation, and its efforts to promote women in the sport of golf.

For information, call Waikoloa Director of Golf Dave Pritchett (808-886-5172).

SHORT PUTTS