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Posted on: Thursday, October 18, 2001

This week's Holes in One

Around the Greens
New twist at Sony Open

Paul Azinger, second on the all-time money list in the Johnny Bellinger Shoot-Out, is a fan favorite at the Waialae Country Club.

Advertiser library photo • Jan Jan. 16, 2000

By Bill Kwon

There will be an innovative new golf challenge kicking off the week of the 2002 Sony Open in Hawai'i in January at the Waialae Country Club.

After a 15-year run, the Johnny Bellinger Shoot-Out is no more. It will be replaced by an event calling for six of Hawai'i's top junior golfers to be paired with six PGA Tour professionals in the inaugural First Hawaiian Bank's Pro-Junior Golf Challenge. It will be an alternate-shot, medal-play format for six holes with all 12 players driving off the first tee.

"Interest was dwindling in the shoot-out and we were thinking of ways for a graceful end," said Walter Dods, chairman and chief executive officer of First Hawaiian Bank.

Retired Gen. Herbert Wolff, a member of the shoot-out committee, approached Waialae pro Greg Nichols with the idea of junior golfers playing with the pros. The idea clicked with Dods, who approved it after the PGA Tour gave its OK.

"We saw an opportunity to provide a new kind of excitement for golf fans and also assist Hawai'i State Junior Golf in the process," Dods said.

"It's going to be a real interesting event," said Nichols, who will be selecting the six PGA touring pros for the event.

As for the six junior golfers, two of them will be the 15-18-year-old boys' and girls' champions from the HSJGA Tournament of Champions Dec. 1-2 at Wailea, Maui. They will be joined by the boys' and girls' players of the year in the same age bracket based on points from all events during the year. If it is the same player, the No. 2 in the points standings will play.

The final two junior golfers will be added to the team as at-large selections. They need not be in the 15-18 age group, thus opening the way for the possible selection of standouts Michelle Wie and Stephanie Kono, who combined to win all three of the major women's amateur events this year as 11-year-olds.

"We hope to get a lot of the junior golfers out there to support the event. Maybe arrange for bus services from all over the island," Nichols said. The event is scheduled for Jan. 8 at 3 p.m.

Of the $25,000 prize money put up by First Hawaiian Bank, $13,000 will go to the pros, including $5,000 to the winner. The other $12,000 will benefit HSJGA.

Picking just six professionals will make Nichols' job difficult. But among the pros who figure to be selected are Paul Azinger, a gallery favorite at Waialae, and Sony Open defending champion Brad Faxon.

Azinger was second on the all-time money list to Hawai'i's David Ishii in the Johnny Bellinger Shoot-Out. Ishii played in it every year, but had to be a successful Monday qualifier last year to play in the Sony Open and get an invitation to the event.

"We hope David can do it again if he doesn't get a sponsor's exemption from Sony," Nichols said. "He'd be great for the new event along with Scott Simpson, who also has local ties. And also players who are good with kids like Tom Lehman and Shigeki Maruyama."

Ishii, who won the 1990 Hawaiian Open, won the Johnny Bellinger Shoot-Out three times — 1993, '98 and '99 — and donated his $38,100 in prize money to junior golf. Azinger, who finally broke through with a victory at Waialae by winning the 2000 Sony Open, and Simpson are two-time winners of the Shoot-Out along with Lanny Wadkins, a two-time Hawaiian Open champion now playing on the Senior Tour.

One of the most memorable vignettes in the format's history came in 1989. The late John Bellinger, First Hawaiian's CEO, reached into his pocket and handed Wadkins $1,000 in cash immediately after the pro had eagled the then par-5 fourth hole.

The Johnny Bellinger Shoot-Out is now history. But the new Pro-Junior Golf Challenge should bring new vigor — definitely youthful enthusiasm — to next year's Sony Open week.

Military golf

No, I don't mean left-right-left up the fairway. With civilian play down at its three courses — Leilehua, Kalakaua and Ft. Shafter — after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Army has set up a new picture ID program to expedite golfers in getting on its military posts.

Civilians can apply for an ID picture card at no cost at Leilehua only. The ID is good for all three courses. You will need a driver's license and another identification with a Social Security number. The new ID also will allow you to sign up for a car pass to get on Kalakaua at Schofield Barracks.

At Hickam's Mamala Bay Course, civilian cars are still not allowed to enter the Air Force base. Each golfer must apply for a one-day personal pass at the visitor center, even if entering with a military sponsor.

Playing at Kane'ohe Klipper on the Marine base is more difficult right now, even since the Threat Condition has been lowered to Charlie instead of Delta, which is the highest state of alert. No civilian cars are allowed on base, and a military sponsor can bring in only two civilian guests per car. Each civilian golfer must also stop and get an individual ID and there cannot be more than two civilians per foursome.

At Barbers Point, civilians can drive right up to the golf course but are required to have a retired or active military sponsor playing in their group.

Bill Kwon can be reached at bkwon@aloha.net.

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