honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 25, 2005

Fujikawa in final of AJGA tourney

Advertiser Staff

Honolulu's Tadd Fujikawa, 14, upset Junior Player of the Year Peter Uihlein, 16, of Bradenton, Fla., 1-up, yesterday to reach the championship match of the AJGA Polo Junior Golf Classic at Sea Island, Ga.

In today's final, Fujikawa, a Moanalua Middle School eighth-grader, plays Jamie Lovemark of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Lovemark defeated Philip Francis, of Scottsdale, Ariz., 2 and 1, in the other semifinal.

Fujikawa went 1-up when Uihlein bogeyed the par-3 17th hole and Fujikawa made par. Both then parred the par-4 18th hole.

Down by three shots after six holes, Fujikawa chipped away at Uihlein's lead and tied it with a birdie on the 11th hole. Uihlein went 1-up on the 13th hole before Fujikawa tied it on 14. They stayed even until the 17th.

Uihlein was chosen the Rolex Junior Player of the Year in a vote by his peers last month. Morgan Pressel was the girls' winner.

Earlier yesterday, Fujikawa defeated Rory Hie of Lakewood, Calif., 1-up, in the quarterfinals.

A field of 88 boys — including many of the top junior golfers in the country — started the tournament with two rounds of stroke play before the field was cut to 32 for match play.

In the girls' competition, Hawai'i's Stephanie Kono and Kimberly Kim were eliminated earlier in match play.

PROS TAKE ON AMATEURS IN BURNS CHALLENGE CUP

It's one thing to have Kevin Hayashi leading the professionals in the John A. Burns Challenge Cup against Hawai'i's top amateurs Monday and Tuesday at the Mid-Pacific Country Club.

After all, Hayashi, Mauna Kea Beach golf pro, is the Aloha Section PGA's player of the year.

But guess who's the leading point-getter in 2005 for the 12-man amateur team?

It's Tadd Fujikawa, a 14-year-old eighth-grader at Moanalua Middle School. Fujikawa led all amateurs with 900 points, edging Brandan Kop by 2 1/2 points.

"Making the Governor's Cup team was my goal for this year, but being the leader in points was unexpected. It's a great thrill," said Fujikawa, who will return from the American Junior Golf Association Classic in Sea Island, Ga.

Hilo's Jacob Low finished third with 835 points, but he decided to turn pro and pass up the Governor's Cup competition.

Joining Fujikawa and Kop on the amateur team are Travis Toyama, Sean Maekawa, Jonathan Ota, Chris Souza, Kellen-Floyd Asao, Shannon Tanoue, Jarett Hamamoto, Blaine Kimura, Brandon Abreu and Alvin Okada.

Besides Hayashi, representing the pros will be Kevin Carll, Regan Lee, Lance Taketa, Jerry Mullen, Ivan Cunningham, Joe Phengsavath, Reynold Lee, Kirk Nelson, Norman-Ganin Asao, Philip Chun and Matt Pakala.

John Lynch, Larry Stubblefield and Brian Sasada finished among the top five in the Aloha Section PGA point standings but had other commitments.

The format calls for team bestball competition on Monday with 12 singles matches on Tuesday. The first tee time will be 7 a.m. each day.