Hawai'i golf history these days is often measured by the most recent prodigy. At the summer invitationals, it is measured more in decades and legendary former champions.

Golfers who have played and supported the sport — and elite golfers of all ages — for years suddenly find themselves in contention. Volunteers who get the medals for tournaments finally get to wear one.

At the 51st annual Waialae Women's Invitational yesterday, Kathy Tsukada and Sharlene Mau fully realized the virtue of patience in a game where that has been preached by everyone who taught them. It is the same patience that helped six Waialae champions earn a place in the Hawai'i Golf Hall of Fame, including Bev Kim, who has won this tournament in five decades.

Tsukada opened Monday with a brilliant 74 at Waialae Country Club and was tied for low-net honors with Lily Yao, last year's runner-up. Tsukada opened yesterday's second round with double bogey and three-putted the second hole before she caught her composure.

"I thought, 'No more,' " Tsukada recalled. She finished with an 8-over-par 78 on the under-construction home of the Sony Open in Hawai'i. She won by six.

Tsukada plays twice a week, mostly at public courses. She was the only non-Waialae member among the low-gross winners. Yao (84—158) captured Championship Flight, Erin Ng (79—162) A Flight, Linette Tom (88—174) B Flight, Nancy Uramoto (93—182) C Flight and Diane Holgman (94—195) D Flight.

It is a course where local knowledge goes a long way. While the PGA Tour pros light up Waialae when it isn't windy, it plays long for women and its slick, small greens can intimidate anyone who doesn't get paid to play, let alone a golfer used to finesse-free putts.

Tsukada admitted "I putted really junk today," but the rest of her game more than compensated, helped by an appreciation of her annual opportunity to play at the private club. "I hardly ever play here, and to me it's like you've gone to another island. It's pretty, by the ocean ... very exciting."

Mau is a WCC member and the person designated to buy this year's medals. For the first time, she will wear something other than the "littlest one."

The 19-handicapper followed an 85 with 90. Her net total of 137 gave her the co-championship of this tournament, by one shot over Ng, a 12-handicapper, and Uramoto, who plays to 22.

The difference came on Mau's next-to-last hole, when she birdied the 150-yard par-3 eighth with a 10-foot putt.

The real difference was something much deeper. A month ago, Mau's game was admittedly a mess, the result of a 2006 where she played just nine rounds and golf's penchant for punishment.

With a more regular playing schedule and a borrowed men's driver to replace her 15-year-old senior men's model, Mau began to hit the ball 10 yards farther and sink some putts. She also found a perfect place between the concentration needed for a tournament and the stress-free feel of playing with her kids — ages 33, 30 and 25.

"I'm not a tournament player," Mau said. "I play the best with my kids and I can't even play for quarters with them."

It helped, in a weird way, that she had eight on the first hole. "I hit a tree, did everything wrong," Mau said. "I thought, 'That's it.' I didn't relax until I thought I had no chance of coming in — after about the 12th hole. Actually, probably after about 10. Well, maybe after that first hole."

NOTES

Linda Johnston had a hole-in-one at the ninth hole yesterday, using a pitching wedge. The temporary design was playing 100 yards. Johnston finished second low net in A Flight.

Two-time defending low-gross champion Sanae Vierra took third low net in her flight this year, shooting 82-83 with an 8-handicap.

The Pua Melia women's invitational is at Olomana Golf Links tomorrow and Friday. That's followed by the Hawai'i State Women's Stroke Play Championship, July 31 to Aug. 2, and the Maui Women's Invitational, Aug. 4 and 5.

Entries for the stroke play, the final women's major of the year, will be accepted through July 27. Erin Long, who won the state match play last week, is entered. For information, contact Kathy Ordway at 262-2428 or ordwayk001@hawaii.rr.com.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.