honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, January 18, 2009

Tadd has gallery 5,000 miles away

Advertiser Staff

Kevin Bell, Tadd Fujikawa's agent and a lawyer in Virginia, is turning golf into a contact sport back in Virginia.

While the gallery at Waialae Country Club was going crazy as Fujikawa shot a spectacular 8-under-par 62, Bell said he ran into his TV while chasing his client's eagle putt on the final hole. Fujikawa just missed the putt and Bell shed no blood, but watching from 5,000 miles away has made him a nervous, and happy, wreck.

"It's been a full contact sport here for two days," Bell said. "My 3-year-old keeps looking up at the TV and saying 'There's Tadd again, daddy.' "

Bell was "crushed" by Fujikawa's sixth-hole bogey Friday and said his wife, Amy, "could barely watch" the next two holes. They woke the kids soon after with their screams when the Moanalua High School senior lipped out an eagle putt on the final hole and made his second Sony cut in three years.

"I might as well put the Godfather trilogy on," Bell said then. "Who can sleep after that?"

Fujikawa's sponsors are Aloha Petroleum, Hawai'i Medical Assurance Association, Kraft Foods and Omega. All have remained loyal the last year-plus while he went through a dramatic swing change and made just two cuts on the pro tours.

Bell is hoping the 18-year-old's second Sony charge will inspire more interest from sponsors and tournament directors on the PGA, European and Nationwide tours. People have already approached the family at Waialae.

Fujikawa turned down more tournament offers than he played last year because of international schedules. He qualified for Sony and does not have any exemptions lined up in 2009 — yet. His plan now is to make the Hawai'i Pearl Open (Feb. 6 to 8) his next start. He won there two years ago, a few weeks after finishing 20th at the Sony.

But after this week, who knows what's next?

"A 62 — Tadd makes his own good fortune," Bell said. "Unbelievable. He never ceases to amaze me."

"Tadd would not be playing in the final round of a PGA tournament without the unwavering support of his family and friends, corporate sponsors and the people of Hawai'i. One of the qualities of Tadd that I admire most is that he knows this."

PARTNER IMPRESSED

Fujikawa shot up the leaderboard with an 8-under-par 62 that places him two shots behind leader Zach Johnson heading into today's final round.

"It was pretty cool," said Fujikawa's playing partner Mattthew Borchert, who shot 73. "Even if they were rooting for the other guy, you are kinda pumped. People are watching you (too.)

"I expected good things (from Fujikawa). I figured I'd get what I saw, a lot of birdies. And a lot of upbeat people."