Advertiser golf columnist Bill Kwon was given the Distinguished Service Award by the Aloha Section PGA Friday at its PGA Classic fund-raising golf tournament.
The award recognizes Kwon for making "significant contributions in reporting and promoting the game of golf." Kwon has reported on Hawai'i golf events and related human interest stories for more than 40 years. He has served with distinction on the Aloha Section PGA Hawai'i Golf Hall of Fame selection committee since its inception in 1988 and continues to serve as the historical resource person for the committee.
Kwon's journalistic history goes back to age 6, when he sold his first Star-Bulletin on Pua Lane the morning Pearl Harbor was bombed. His first byline appeared in 1959.
Kwon was promoted to sports editor in 1976 and retired from the Star-Bulletin this year as a columnist/golf writer. His emphasis the past several years has been on golf, in and out of the office. Kwon eased his transition into retirement by immediately taking on the position of golf columnist for The Honolulu Advertiser's weekly golf page.
In his 40-plus years of sportswriting, Kwon has reported from The Masters, where he followed Kaua'i's David Ishii, and U.S. Open. He has played St. Andrew's and Pebble Beach, and been the lead writer at all of Hawai'i's major golf events.
Kwon also worked all but a few of football's Super Bowls and covered the Seoul Olympics. The Roosevelt graduate initiated the Prep Parade weekly high school column, and covered the Islanders from spring training to their final baseball game in Hawai'i.
PGA contributes to disaster relief
The Aloha Section PGA is a part of 41 regional sections of The PGA of America that announced more than $1 million in contributions to national disaster relief efforts associated with the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
Contributions include $500,000 in donations from the association, various PGA Sections and individual PGA professionals in addition to $520,000 contributed by the PGA on behalf of the United States Ryder Cup team.
PGA sections and professionals are also conducting local fundraising activities to provide additional support to the relief effort. The Aloha Section is donating a portion of its proceeds from the PGA Classic toward these efforts.
Organizations benefiting from the contributions include the Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund, the September 11th Fund of the United Way and the New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund.
Wailea will donate $5 for every round
Wailea Golf Club will donate $5 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for every round of golf played there through Thanksgiving weekend.
The club is also continuing its kama'aina special of $42.25 per round at the Blue Course and $45 at the Gold or Emerald courses through Thanksgiving weekend. The kama'aina special is applicable for those that book as singles or groups of two or more.
For more information, call Wailea at 875-7450 on Maui.
Wahine benefit Tuesday at Waikele
Entries are still being accepted for the ninth annual Na Aloha O' Wahine, a benefit for the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team.
The tournament will be played at noon Tuesday at Waikele Golf Club. Format is three-person modified scramble, with open and wahine flights. Cost is $435 per team or $145 per player.
For information and entries, call 295-8013.
Advertiser Staff
