Hawai'i's Parker McLachlin celebrated a dream come true — winning a PGA Tour event — last year in a surprising way. After capturing the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open by seven shots, he changed his swing and begins his title defense today still coming to grips with the switch.

"Basically the day after I won Reno I started the quest for a new swing coach," McLachlin told the Gazette Journal this week.

His final-round 74 at Reno convinced him to find a swing that depended less on perfect timing and "performed its best when it's crunch time," McLachlin said. He has been working with Sean Foley since the end of last year.

The struggle to adjust has been apparent. He is 175th on the money list, with $233,704 and 12 missed cuts in 19 starts. McLachlin's scoring average is 1.8 strokes higher than last year (72.87) and he has made $1 million less.

Of course, $540,000 of last year's haul came in Reno, where McLachlin shot a career-best, course-record-tying 10-under-par 62 in the second round. His winning margin was the second-largest of the tour season.

Reno-Tahoe is played the same week as the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. Ben Crane is the highest ranked player at Montreux Golf and Country Club, at No. 65. The field also includes Kane'ohe's Dean Wilson, Paul Azinger, Rocco Mediate, Daniel Chopra, Chris DiMarco, Paul Stankowski and Kevin Na.

McLachlin tees off at 9:33 a.m. today and 4:33 a.m. tomorrow, Hawai'i time.

ARMY INVITATIONAL TODAY

The Army Invitational, which traces its roots back to 1957, tees off today at Leilehua Golf Course.

Alex Ching won by nine strokes last year, with the lowest winning score (10-under 206) since 1997 — and since the tournament started being played exclusively at Leilehua. Ching, a Punahou graduate who earned honorable mention All-America honors his first year at University of San Diego, opened with rounds of 66 and 68. Spencer Shishido finished second.

Shishido is back, but Ching is not. The field also includes Manoa Cup finalist Layne Morita, University of Oregon junior Sean Maekawa, 2005 champion Matthew Ma, former Manoa Cup champs Ryan Perez and Kellen-Floyd Asao, and eight-time champion Brandan Kop.

Golfers go out from about 7 a.m. each day, with the Championship and C flights starting first this morning and A, B and Senior flights going out first Friday. The field is cut in half after 36 holes.

OKINO WILL DEFEND TITLE

Kacie Komoto, the 14-year-old who won last week's State Women's Stroke Play Championship, will be one of many trying to prevent 15-year-old Cyd Okino from retaining her State Women's Match Play Championship next week at Oahu Country Club.

Okino, a Punahou junior, beat Nicole Sakamoto, 5 and 3, in last year's final. It was Okino's second match play title; in 2005 she won her first at age 11, breaking Stephanie Kono's record as youngest champion. Okino is one of eight multiple match-play winners in the 33-year history.

All three members of Hawai'i's squad for next month's USGA Women's State Team Championship — Komoto, Okino and former Rainbow Wahine Xyra Suyetsugu — are playing. Others include University of Hawai'i golfers Erin Matsuoka and Kaili Britos, and Allisen Corpuz, the 11-year-old who was second at the Jennie K.

The tournament begins Wednesday, with qualifying at 8 a.m. and first round at 1 p.m. Next Thursday's quarterfinals and semifinals are at the same times and next Friday's final starts at 7 a.m.

Entries are still open. Call 262-2428 or email ordwayk001@hawaii.rr.com to sign up.

The 31st annual State Senior Women's Championship is Sept. 28 at Kapolei Golf Club. All women age 50 and older, who belong to HSWGA-member clubs, are eligible, along with past senior champions. Entry fee is $50. For more information, or to donate a prize, contact Marcia Lee (ml3210@aol.com or 368-5600).

The Hawai'i State Golf Association is having a State Senior Amateur Championship, for men 55 and older and women 50 and older on Oct. 17 and 18 at Kona Country Club. The first round has a noon shotgun start on the Mountain Course and the final round has a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start on the Ocean Course. For more information, contact George Park or Peggy Ciriako on the Big Island, (808) 322-3431. Entries are available at http://www.hawaiistategolf.org.

ASSISTANTS WILL TEE IT UP

Ko Olina Golf Club will be the site of the Aloha Section PGA Callaway Golf Assistants Championship Tuesday and Wednesday. The tournament has a $5,500 purse.

The field includes Shane Abe, Bradley Bowen, Kalani Kia'aina, Regan Lee, Kirk Nelson, Ray Suzuki and Lance Taketa.

Also at Ko Olina, the third and fourth sessions of its Get Golf Ready Program are now available for sign-ups. The program is aimed at beginners and players returning to the game.

Cost for five lessons is $99 and includes on-course activities guided by PGA and LPGA professionals. There is free use of rental clubs and range balls during lessons. Groups of four or more can schedule their own time.

To register, go to http://www.PlayGolfAmerica.com and select Get Golf Ready, or call Ko Olina (676-5300).

The fourth Ko Olina Kidz Club Session begins Sunday and runs through Sept. 13. Juniors ages 7 to 17 are eligible for six Sundays of instruction and activities.

Golfers 17 and under play free at Ko Olina with a paying adult.

PRO-AM SERIES' FINAL STOP

The final stop of the third annual Castle Resorts & Hotels/Aloha Section PGA Foundation UH Pro-Am Series, which benefits University of Hawai'i golf, will be Oct. 9 at Waikele Golf Course. The series has raised more than $50,000 toward a new endowment fund pledge of $170,000 over the next four years.

The Pro-Am Series and Chevron/PGA Family Fun Zone at UH football games are the only fundraising for the endowment fund and golf teams. The fund provides scholarships for Hawai'i residents in financial need.

The series is open to all section members, apprentices and ATPs, and amateurs with a current USGA GHIN handicap. Entry fee is $200 for amateurs and $100 for pros. Format is five-person teams, with four amateurs and a pro, One Net/One Gross Best Ball.

Sponsorships are also available. Contact the Aloha Section (593-2230) for more information.

NOTES

The new Hoakalei Country Club in 'Ewa will host its first charity tournament when the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawai'i celebrates its 50th year of service by putting on a golf fundraiser next Friday at the private club. Call the UCPA of Hawai'i at 532-6744 for registration or information. Deadline is tomorrow.