After four years, First Hawaiian Bank will end sponsorship of its Pro-Junior Golf Challenge. The exhibition featured six of Hawai'i's finest juniors paired with six tour professionals the Tuesday of Sony Open in Hawai'i week. They played a six-hole alternate-ball format.

"The event had a long and successful run, but we decided it was better in the future to steer money directly to junior golf instead," Gerry Keir, First Hawaiian's Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications, said in an e-mail. "We will continue to support the Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association at the same level that the Challenge did."

Keir added the bank is also "actively looking" to support juniors in other ways to "broaden the impact of our support to more young golfers."

The Challenge raised $12,000 annually for the HSJGA. Some of the participating pros also donated their winnings.

Earl Medeiros won the inaugural Challenge with Brad Faxon. The following year, Travis Toyama and Tom Lehman captured the championship. Kellen Watabu and Jerry Kelly won the 2004 event, and Mari Chun and Retief Goosen won the final Challenge in January.

KAJIHARA TOURING ASIA

Lisa Kajihara, a 2003 King Kekaulike High School graduate, is touring with the Collegiate All-Star Golf Team on its 23rd annual Asia Tour. Kajihara, who transferred to the University of Hawai'i a year ago, was one of 10 college players invited.

The team is traveling and playing its way through Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and China. The 28-day trip features 18 tournaments sponsored by Asian golf courses.

Kajihara helped Portland State win the Big Sky Conference and advance to the NCAA West Regional as a freshman. She was named to the all-conference and National Golf Coaches Association All-America Scholar teams.

She redshirted at UH last year after transferring and has three years of eligibility remaining. Kajihara was the 2002 and 2003 Maui Interscholastic League champion and King Kekaulike's 2003 class valedictorian.

RARICK EVENT DEADLINE

The first 80 entries received by tomorrow's 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.

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