LAS VEGAS — This wasn't what Tadd Fujikawa had in mind when he decided it was time to turn pro and play the PGA Tour.

The 16-year-old Moanalua High School junior was humbled on the golf course the way a reckless card player would be at the World Series of Poker.

Not only was Fujikawa's stay at the Frys.com Open brief, he had the dubious distinction of having the highest score in the 144-player field. His two-day total of 154 included a 9-over-par 80 yesterday at TPC at the Canyons. Two other players from Hawai'i — Dean Wilson (70—141) and Parker McLachlin (72—141) — also missed the cut of 139.

"It is difficult," Fujikawa said of his first-time Vegas experience. "Today, I really struggled. I hit a handful of shots that cost me eight, nine strokes.

"I'm out there to win but my main concern was trying to make it to the weekend. But I've never played in Las Vegas and the wind was really blowing and it was tough conditions out there, especially toward the end."

It was the kind of Vegas-style drubbing one might expect from a neophyte at the craps table. No beginner's luck here. Just a hard lesson in how tough life on the PGA Tour can be.

And it wasn't like he was going up against Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els. Only 10 of the Tour's top-50 money earners are competing in Las Vegas this week.

The reality was Fujikawa was in over his head, playing desert golf in the wind against seasoned pros who can shoot low on courses that yield more than their fair share of birdies and eagles.

"It was definitely a learning experience," he said.

His troubles began Thursday when playing in optimum conditions at TPC Summerlin, he failed to break par. His 2-over 74 had him far down on the leaderboard and it put greater pressure on him to post a low number yesterday.

And when he recorded a triple-bogey 7 at the par-4 No. 13 followed by a double-bogey 6 on the par-4 No. 14 (his fourth and fifth holes) and was sitting at 7-over par early into his second round, he was a dead kid walking.

To make matters worse, his caddie got sick and his mom Lori had to take over his bag for the remainder of the round.

"That was a bit unnerving," he said. "But that's the way it goes. You live and learn."

He made the turn at 9-over after making bogey at Nos. 16 and 17. Two more bogeys at Nos. 2 and 3 put him 11-over for the tournament and he was unable to turn it around. That he couldn't record a single birdie yesterday was indicative of Fujikawa's struggles.

"When you're not hitting it well with your ball-striking, everything starts to become a factor," Fujikawa said. "I couldn't make putts. I had trouble off the tee. It was very frustrating."

Still, despite his woes in Vegas, Fujikawa believes he made the right decision to turn pro.

"There's no doubt in my mind," he said. "You're going to have your bad days. But I feel good about my game. This is what makes you better, learning from experiences like this."