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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, June 10, 2006

To be young, gifted and a golf phenom

Tadd Fujikawa

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Tadd Fujikawa has just accomplished what 15-year-old golfers rarely ever do: The Moanalua High School freshman qualified on Monday for the U.S. Open.

While it seems as if all eyes were following 16-year-old Michelle Wie's attempt to be the first woman to qualify for the U.S. Open, Fujikawa quietly won his right to play in the nation's top championship by winning a sectional qualifier at Po'ipu Bay Golf Club on Kaua'i.

Fujikawa isn't the youngest male to qualify for the U.S. Open. That would be Tyrell Garth, who played the tournament at age 14 in 1941. Still, that doesn't diminish Fujikawa's significant achievement. The kid's got game.

The whole world already knows that's also true of Wie, who made a historic gender quest for the U.S. Open at another qualifying tournament in New Jersey.

Wie showed off her prodigious talent and charisma to a large army of fans. And gave everyone a thrill when she ended her first round with a birdie chip from 60 feet. Ultimately, she didn't make the cut at that tournament, but she enters this weekend poised to make a big run at an LPGA major.

You don't have to be a duffer to be amazed and inspired by the accomplishments of Wie and Fujikawa. They are two exceptionally gifted Ho-nolulu teenagers who have given us all much to be proud about.