Brandan Kop, who has played in every Governor's Cup except one since 1980, really likes his amateur team's chances this year.

"I would say this would be the strongest team we've had," said Kop, who finished second in the point standings determining the top 12 amateurs who will take on 12 professionals in the 34th John Burns Challenge Cup Nov. 27 and 28 at the Mid-Pacific Country Club.

He's very optimistic about ending the professionals' three-year winning streak because of two young high school standouts — Chan Kim and Tadd Fujikawa.

Kim, a Kaimuki High School junior and reigning state boys' and Army Amateur champion, topped the list with 1,212 points.

Fujikawa, a Moanalua sophomore and the youngest player ever to compete in the U.S. Open, finished third with 1,125, closing with a rush with back-to-back victories in the Turtle Bay Amateur and the Oahu Country Club Men's Invitational.

"I think the young guys are going to win their share of the matches," said Kop, also referring to the other young guns on his team — Honoka'a High's Sean Maekawa, Alvin Okada Jr., University of Hawai'i-Hilo's Kevin Shimomura, former UH golfer Pierre-Henri Soero and Henry Park, a 15-year-old sophomore at Kealakehe High School on the Big Island.

"Mentally, they are way ahead than we were at their age," said Kop, who played in his first Governor's Cup as a 19-year-old sophomore on the UH golf team. "Nobody intimidates them. In fact, they might intimidate the pros. They're all big hitters. That's the game now."

It certainly proved to be the case last year for Fujikawa, who went 3-0 in his matches as the youngest player at 14 in the Governor's Cup, an event similar in format to the Ryder Cup.

Playing in the event last year proved to be a good learning experience for the great year he had in 2006, according to Fujikawa.

"It's a fun tournament. Not too much pressure, but you want to win," said Fujikawa, who thinks Kim will enjoy his first-time experience as well.

Kim said he's "really excited" about playing in the Governor's Cup and the chance to qualify for the Sony Open in Hawai'i, a perk that goes with making the team.

That was his goal after finishing as the fourth best amateur in last year's Hawai'i State Open, the first of 12 designated tournaments in which amateurs can earn points for the Governor's Cup.

"I figured if I could get inside the top three in every tournament I played, I could do it," said Kim, who was among the top-10 amateurs in the Hawai'i Pearl Open and Hilo Open and finished behind Kop for low-amateur honors in the Mid-Pacific Open.

Kim took third in the Hickam Invitational and posted top-10 finishes in the Barbers Point Invitational and the Turtle Bay Amateur after winning the Army Amateur to beat Kop for 2006 point honors.

A special invitation was extended to Kaua'i's Casey Watabu, who won the U.S. Men's Amateur Public Links championship in Bremerton, Wash., last summer, according to team captain Phil Anamizu. But Watabu had to turn it down because of final exams at the University of Nevada.

The 12 members of the amateur team will vie for the lone amateur spot in the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club. You won't find better odds (12 to 1) anywhere else to qualify for a PGA Tour event.

"It's a good opportunity. I think it's a good chance to show what we can do," Fujikawa said.

"That's what I'm working hard for," added Kim, who has never played Waialae.

HAYASHI HEADS PROS

It's also over in the 2006 points race for the professionals' team, with Mauna Kea teaching pro Kevin Hayashi the runaway winner with 1,377.5 points, nearly double that of runner-up David Ishii.

The others, in order, are Matt Pakkala, Kevin Carll, John Lynch, Mark Morrison, Andrew Feldmann, Regan Lee, Lance Taketa, Brian Sasada, Philip Chun and David Havens.

Alternates Kirk Nelson, Larry Stubblefield and Norman-Ganin Asao might have to grab their sticks, because the pros' final 12-man team won't be determined until later.

Team captain Ron Castillo Sr. isn't sure who'll be available because many of the pros will have scheduling conflicts and other commitments.