Hawai'i golfers will attempt to break a three-year drought when the Prince Resorts Hawai'i State Open tees off tomorrow at Mauna Kea Resort on the Big Island. The tournament has a $50,000 purse, with $6,000 going to the champion.

For the past three years, that money has left town. Tom Eubank, an event sponsor from Florida, won the 2002 State Open at Makena. California teaching pro Kris Moe won at Hapuna a year later. Last year, Arizona mini-tour player Chad Saladin — who was stationed at Schofield Barracks previously — won by five at Hawai'i Prince.

Until then, the only Hawai'i tournament to offer men, women and seniors a championship simultaneously at one site had been locals only since its re-launching in 1974.

Kevin Hayashi won in 1999 and 2000, following in the back-to-back footsteps of Hilo's Steve Veriato (1977 and '78), Kaua'i's David Ishii (1984 and '85), Maui's Dick McClean (1990 and '91) and then-Kailua resident Scott Simpson (1993 and '94).

Hayashi will be playing on his home course this year. He has a 20-point lead over Maui's Brian Sasada in the race for Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year. The State Open is the final event for points.

Golfers go out from 7 a.m. tomorrow and Saturday, with the field cut in half after the second round. Golf begins at 8 a.m. Sunday, with leaders expected to finish by 2 p.m. The Oakley Pro-Am begins at 11:30 a.m. today.

The open flight also includes Eubank, Saladin, Casey Nakama, Joe Phengsavath, Regan Lee and Larry Stubblefield, who won the senior title last year.

McClean, who lives in California, is back to play in the senior flight along with Wendell Kop, Lance Suzuki, Allan Yamamoto, Dan Nishimoto and six-time champion Dean Prince.

Among the six in the women's flight are the past two state high school champions — Waiakea's Christine Kim and Leilehua's Britney Choy.

WOMEN'S, MEN'S OPEN QUALIFIERS BACK IN 2006

Hawai'i again will be the site of sectional qualifiers for the U.S. Women's Open and the U.S. Open in 2006.

The 18-hole local qualifier for the Women's Open will be May 18, at Ko Olina Golf Club. The sectional also will be at Ko Olina, on June 13. It is 36 holes.

Dates for the four local men's qualifiers (on different islands) and that sectional will be announced later.

The number of golfers who advance from the sectional to the Opens is based on the number of entries.

Mary Bea Porter-King, who runs the qualifiers here, says the USGA probably won't give Hawai'i another sectional unless at least 30 women enter. The national organization is looking for at least 50 at each of the men's local qualifiers.

BRIEFLY