honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, February 10, 2008

Fujikawa misses cut at Pebble Beach

 • Special report: Tadd Fujikawa
Golf page
 •  The Honolulu Advertiser's Golf page

By James Raia
Special to the Advertiser

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Tadd Fujikawa lines up a shot with his caddie on the 10th hole of the Poppy Hills golf course in the third round.

BEN MARGOT | Associated Press

spacer spacer

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Tadd Fujikawa shot a third-round 75 at Poppy Hills Golf Course and missed the cut at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Fujikawa, 17, had a three-day 12-over 228 total while playing on the famed Monterey Peninsula courses for the first time competitively.

Fujikawa's effort here included a 9-over second-round 81 at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

"I had a few bad breaks yesterday," Fujikawa said. "And I had a few bad breaks today, actually. I had about four or five putts that should have dropped, maybe more. But that's golf and you just battle through it."

Fujikawa had an opening-round, par 72 at Spyglass Hill, beating more than half the field. But his putting faltered often in the second two rounds.

"Yesterday was the kind of round you just want to forget about," said Fujikawa, whose 81 on Friday included six bogeys, two double bogeys and a birdie. "You don't want to think about and just let it go."

His mother, an uncle and his agent, Kevin Sell, joined Fujikawa at the tournament.

"I took a lot of positives out of this tournament," Fujikawa said. "I feel great about my golf. I do, I really do. I'm really excited to play my next event. I have a little bit more work and I should be right there."

For Fujikawa, competing in an event that included a wide range of celebrities — from comedian George Lopez to surfing champion Kelly Slater — and a celebratory crowd it was an enjoyable education.

"There's nothing better than Pebble Beach," he said. "The golf courses are amazing. The greens are a little bumpy, but everyone is playing under the same conditions, so I can't complain. Overall, everyone was very supportive of me, gave me a lot of confidence and really backed me up."

Fujikawa has yet to make a cut in 10 tournaments since turning pro last year.

His next scheduled tournament is a Japanese Tour event at the end of May. He played in the event last year.

"I played kind of bad; It was my first tournament in Japan last year," he said. "Hopefully this year, I can get off to a little better start and see what happens."

Honolulu native Parker McLachlin made the cut after a 74 today to stand at 214.

Kane'ohe native Dean Wilson, a PGA Tour member, missed the cut after a 73 (221) yesterday.