Posted on: Thursday, March 3, 2005
GOLF REPORT
Kodama will defend stroke play crown
| • | Kodama will defend stroke play crown |
| • | Kop, Gomi victorious at 4-ball tournament |
| • | Right club results in ace No. 2 |
| • | Golf Notices |
Advertiser Staff
Kodama's 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole last year gave him a one-shot victory over Australian James Beston.
Both were seniors on the University of Hawai'i golf team.
Kodama, originally from Spokane, Wash., came to Manoa from Las Vegas, where he was the 2003 Nevada State Amateur champion.
Kodama is finishing up his degree this semester and assisting Rainbow Warrior coach Ronn Miyashiro.
He plans to turn pro after graduating and play on a mini-tour in Las Vegas before going to the PGA Qualifying School.
Beston is not expected to play at Pearl this year. He graduated last summer and is working in Australia.
Del-Marc Fujita took third last year, followed by Jonathan Mathias. Both are in this year's field, along with 2003 champion Chase Chulakote, Travis Toyama, Ryan Perez, Kellen Watabu, Mark Chun and state high school champion Kurt Nino.
The 72-hole tournament cuts the field to the top 40 and ties after Friday's second round. Golfers go out from 11:19 a.m. every day but Friday, when they start at 7 a.m.
Kodama won with a total of 1-under-par 287 in wet and windy conditions last year.
Lindsay Hong and Sarah Sheffield earned the $500 Hawai'i State Women's Golf Foundation Lily K. Yao Scholarship Fund grants. Both graduated last year. Hong, from Punahou, is a freshman at Yale. Sheffield, from Kea'au, Hawai'i, is at Gonzaga.
The Yao Fund was established for college-bound girls, with grants based on merit, golf aspiration and need.
The HSWGF also awarded golf travel stipends, totaling $5,000, to Kayla Morinaga, Kelli Nakano, Miki Ueoka, Whitney Ueno, Michelle Wie and Amanda Wilson.
The stipends are used to supplement travel costs to golf competitions on the Mainland.
For grant and travel stipend applications, or to make a donation, call the HSWGF office at 589-2046.
Matt Kodama will defend his Hawai'i State Amateur Stroke Play Championship beginning next Thursday at Pearl Country Club.
HSWGF awards grants, travel stipends
