As he prepared to tee off in the final PGA Tour event of the season, Hawai'i's Tadd Fujikawa accepted an invitation to play in his eighth professional event. The 16-year-old will be in the Casio World Open, Nov. 22 to 25, in Kochi, Japan.

The tournament is on the Japan Golf Tour Organization schedule. Its purse is approximately $1.4 million. Fujikawa was first approached by the tournament promoter while still an amateur. He played in the JGTO's Chunichi Crowns in April, three months before turning pro, and missed the cut by two.

Hawai'i's Michelle Wie played the last two Casio events, missing the cut by a stroke in 2005 and finishing next-to-last last year. She announced Tuesday that she would not play this year so she can devote more time to recovering from her injuries.

Fujikawa will try to make his first cut as a professional when he plays the Children's Miracle Network Classic, beginning today at Disney Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Moanalua High School junior will play with Punahou graduate Parker McLachlin the first two days. They tee off at 2:40 a.m. HST in the first round and 6:40 a.m. HST in the second.

Fujikawa is sporting a new Disney head cover.

TURTLE BAY TABS MUROTA

Japanese golf legend Kiyoshi Murota will represent Turtle Bay Resort, it was announced yesterday. Murota, like his friend David Ishii, was born July 26, 1955. The two have played with and against each other since Ishii started competing in Japan more than 20 years ago.

Murota has won six times on the Japan golf tour, and three more times on the Japan Senior Tour since becoming eligible in 2005, including the 2005 JPGA Senior Championship. He was the senior circuit's leading money winner last year and is No. 1 again this year.

Despite his age, Murota is still fully exempt on the regular Japan tour, where he was 42nd on the money list last year.

The amiable Murota spends most of his offseasons in Hawai'i to escape the cold, and usually lives and trains at Turtle Bay. He has played the last two Turtle Bay Championships, making his Champions Tour debut there in 2005 with a 17th-place finish. He tied for second this January.

Murota has also won the Hawai'i Pearl Open twice. He planned to play in his 24th Pearl Open this year, but changed his plans when his high finish at Turtle Bay earned him a slot in the next Champions Tour event.

"Between his fine play and character on and off the course, he will be a fine ambassador of the resort as he travels the world," said Turtle Bay Director of Golf Matt Hall.

Murota will wear the Turtle Bay logo on his shirt and bag.

UH WOMEN FINISH SIXTH

Hawai'i held on to sixth place in yesterday's final round of the 19-team Kent Youel Invitational at Kapolei Golf Course. The team closed with a score of 312, for a 929 total, in its final competition of the fall season.

The Rainbow Wahine were again led by senior Xyra Suyetsugu (73—224), who tied for 11th individually in the 102-player field. The reigning Hawai'i State Women's Stroke Play champion led UH in all three of its fall tournaments, finishing 14th and third earlier.

Carolina Perez (80—233) and Corie Hou (78—233) finished with a share of 33rd and Lisa Kajihara (81—241) tied for 65th.

The 'Bows' next tournament is the Fresno State Invitational the end of February. It will give the team time to train and coach Ashley Biffle time to rest before she gives birth to her first child. Due date is Nov. 27.

"We played well this fall," said Biffle, whose team is ranked 78th. "We played great in San Diego (tie for second) and we're definitely on the right track."

Top-ranked UCLA beat fourth-ranked Southern California by four shots to claim the Youel title. The Trojans (290—885) made up seven shots yesterday. Ninth-ranked Cal was next at 296—896.

UCLA teammates Tiffany Joh (72—217) and Maria Jose Uribe (75—217) shared medalist honors. USC teammates Belen Mozo and Joanne Lee both closed with 71 to finish a shot back.

Punahou senior Stephanie Kono has verbally committed to play at UCLA next season.

UH MEN HOST TOURNEY

The Rainbow Warriors will play in and host their final fall tournament, the University of Hawai'i/Turtle Bay Intercollegiate, Monday to Wednesday on the North Shore.

Hawai'i's highest finish in three tournaments this season is 13th, at the Sycuan Collegiate Invitational two weeks ago. Senior Ryan Perez led the team with a 33rd-place finish. The 'Bows' scoring average is 301.2.

Loyola Marymount won last year at Turtle Bay. This year, Pepperdine is the highest-ranked team, at No. 16 in this week's Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index. The 21-team field also includes 27th-ranked Tennessee, 31st-ranked UNLV and Japan's Osaka Gakuin.

Hawai'i is No. 191 in this week's index. Perez holds the best scoring average at 74.44, followed by senior Travis Toyama at 75.13.

Spots are still available for the Warrior Golf Booster Club Fall College-Am tournament, which begins at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Turtle Bay's Palmer Course. The event will pair two college players and four amateurs. It benefits the Rainbow program.

The 'Bows don't play again until the UH-Hilo Invitational, Feb. 6 to 8 on the Big Island. Their John A. Burns Intercollegiate will be Feb. 20 to 22.