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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, May 3, 2007

GOLF REPORT
Clubs were lost, but Wachovia entry found

 •  Stubblefield revived '100 Holes of Golf'

By Parker McLachlin
Special to The Advertiser

2006 Hawai'i golf calendar
See a listing of all Hawai'i golf events this year.

Golf Tips logoGolf tips
Here are some tips to keep your game in tip-top shape!

Golf Guide logoAdvertiser golf guide
Here is a look at all of the golf courses in the state, with contact numbers, yardage and green fees.
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Join us as we take a tour on the PGA Tour with Parker McLachlin, a former Punahou athlete. McLachlin earned his PGA Tour card for this season. He joins Castle alum Dean Wilson as the only Hawai'i golfers on the PGA Tour. McLachlin, Waikoloa's touring pro, will write his impressions on events that he's just completed and tournaments that are upcoming on his calendar.

Last week I felt really good going into the week at the EDS Byron Nelson. I played really well the first few days and made the cut.

I had a few bad holes on Saturday and Sunday to push me a little further down the leaderboard than I wanted to, but I was pleased with the progress I've made and it's always nice to play four rounds instead of two.

On Sunday, I headed back to Scottsdale, Ariz., after I played because I was the 15th alternate for the Wachovia this week in Charlotte, N.C.

I figured that I had no chance to get in because everyone raves about the tournament, the course, and how they treat the players. For example, every player gets a Mercedes Benz during the week.

Monday I was notified that I was now the fourth alternate and thought "I better get out there." So I took a red-eye to North Carolina on Monday and got in about 6 a.m. on Tuesday. My clubs, however, didn't.

I figured I would get some spare clubs from the Titleist tour van and smack it around on the golf course. So, on Tuesday, I walked out on the first tee, with a set of rental clubs basically, and standing there is the current Masters champ Zach Johnson.

Johnson was with Stewart Cink and the two of them were nice enough to let me play nine holes with them.

My clubs showed up Tuesday night, and I made it in to the tournament field. From looking at the golf course, it's going to be one of the best tests of golf all year besides the majors. The greens are firm, fast and very tough. It will be quite the test. I'm going to guess that 11-under will win, but I don't think a ton of guys are going to go under par all four rounds.

The top guys in the world are coming over for the Players Championship next week, so they all want to prepare for that by playing this week.

It's cool to play a practice round and look over and see Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan playing in a Pro Am together.

The atmosphere and the buzz is very exciting, and people out here are looking forward to a great event. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that I get to drive a Mercedes Benz all week, too.

For more information on Parker McLachlin, please visit www.ParkerMcLachlin.com.