Hayashi, 44, got into his seventh Sony/Hawaiian Open by earning his fourth Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year honor since 2001. He has yet to make a cut, but that includes an asterisk.

Three years ago Hayashi, a teaching pro at Mauna Kea, found himself thrown into the midst of Michelle Wie mania when he played with the then-14-year-old in her first Sony appearance. He basically gave up his focus and chance at making that cut to serve as her unofficial bodyguard, downfield blocker and — as she called him several times in the post-round press conferences — "Uncle Kevin."

He has been "Uncle Kevin" ever since, and remains one of Hawai'i's best, and best-liked, golfers. He missed the cut by one at Waialae last year after shooting 144, his tournament low.

Chin and Mariano, who earned the section's other exemptions at last month's qualifier, have watched mostly from outside.

Chin, 50, has been a pro at Navy-Marine 28 years, but played in the Hawaiian Open just once, a decade ago. Mariano, 47, is a pro at Pure Golf Academy and Fitting Center in Koko Marina. He has shown up in BMW ads since getting into the Sony, but for the most part his golf career, like his personality, has been low-key.