"Big Break Ka'anapali" winner Kim Welch is the new touring pro for Ka'anapali Resort. Welch finished Top 10 on the Duramed Futures Tour this year to earn playing privileges on the LPGA tour next year.

Welch is a friend of Maui's Shayna Miyajima, a Futures player who caddied for Welch when she won this year's Alliance Bank Golf Classic.

Welch will be featured in Ka'anapali promotions and events and display the resort logo on her bag.

Before winning the Golf Channel competition at Ka'anapali, Welch, a native of Sacramento, won 11 tournaments and All-American honors at Washington State. She joined the Futures tour in 2006 and led the Tour in driving distance this year.

"I'm thrilled Ka'anapali is my home base because it's a beautiful place with two challenging courses to hone my game," said Welch, 25. "Winning the 'Big Break' was a dream come true and I hope to make an impact as a touring pro next year."

Added Ed Kageyama, Ka'anapali's general manager: "Ka'anapali has always placed an importance on giving access to those who want to learn the game of golf, and we are excited to help Kim as she embarks on the LPGA tour. Kim will be an outstanding ambassador for Ka'anapali and we are proud to support her."

NOTES

The Oahu Country Club team, led by professional Bill Welden and amateurs Ron Reeve, Traci Kashiwabara-Ayabe, Mike Foster and Leslie Tokunaga, won the third and final event of the 2008 Aloha Section PGA Foundation/Castle Resorts & Hotels Pro-Am Series. The winning score was 116, one shot better than the GolfLink Inc. team led by Joe Phengsavath and amateurs Carol Arakawa, Michael Wong, Glenn Hirayama and JoAnn Takamiyashiro. Jerry Mullen won low pro honors with a 2-under par 70, with Don Wilburn, Phengsavath and Bruce Maeda a shot back. The series provides a full four-year scholarship for the Hawai'i golf program, for a Hawai'i resident with financial need.

The Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association received a $20,000 grant from the Bank of Hawai'i Charitable Foundation to support its youth golf programs. "The Bank of Hawai'i has been at our side as a partner every step of the way since we started the HSJGA 10 years ago," said HSJGA President Mary Bea Porter-King. "The support from their foundation has been key to our survival and growth; they share and believe in our vision to develop not only future golfers but future leaders through the game of golf." Al Landon, chief executive officer and chairman of Bank of Hawai'i, credited the HSJGA with "producing some of the top golfers in the world."

First Tee of Hawai'i has completed a dual-row irrigation system for its six-hole golf practice facility at Salvation Army Camp Homelani in Waialua. The project was made possible through a $10,824 construction grant from the USGA and a Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation grant of $10,000. The project was handled by Royal Contracting.

Entry deadline for the third annual Makalei Amateur Championship is Oct. 25. The tournament, Nov. 1 and 2 on the Big Island, is open to all golfers, with men's and women's flights. Entry fee is $175, or $125 for members of Makalei's eClub. Information: Kevin Ginoza, Director of Golf, at 808-325-6625 or makaleigolf@hawaiiantel.com.

Waikoloa's Jay Taise won $1,355 at the 20th Senior PGA Professional National Championship. Taise shot 69-72-80-73 to finish 16 shots behind champion Kirk Hanefeld, from Massachusetts. Hanefeld won by four shots at Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo, Calif.

The 2008 Alii Cup, presented by Honsador, will be Oct. 24 to 26. The match-play event, at Kona Country Club will have qualifying at noon on Oct. 24, with match play starting the next morning. Entry fee is $125 and includes three rounds, a Friday pupu party and lunch Saturday. Entry deadline is tomorrow. Information: 808-960-8779 or 808-327-2130. Entry forms at 808golf.com.