| Posted on: Thursday, October 25, 2001
• Defending champs facing a tough field
• This week's Holes in One
• Golf Tips
Around the Greens
Trio looking for repeats
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| Kevin Hayashi, who won last year's tournament by six strokes, is looking for his third consecutive Hawai'i State Open title, beginning today.
Advertiser library photo • Nov. 1, 1999
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By Bill Kwon
If you think the New York Yankees and University of Hawai'i's football team with Nick Rolovich at quarterback are on a roll, consider how Kevin Hayashi, Christel Tomori and Dean Prince perform year after year in the Hawai'i State Open golf championship.
The 54-hole tournament — sponsored by Williams & Associates — begins today at the Makaha Resort Golf Club with all three returning as multiple defending champions.
Hayashi, who already clinched the Aloha Section PGA player-of-the-year honors, is seeking his third straight men's title. Tomori is after her fourth straight women's crown.
As for Prince, he is the only senior champion in the history of the Hawai'i State Open. He has won it every year since 1996 — the first year of competition for the seniors. So Prince is trying to make it a remarkable six consecutive titles.
So, how to explain "The Streak"?
"Just lucky, I guess," said Prince, who first won the senior title when the tournament was played at the Mauna Kea Resort on the Big Island.
Hayashi can't explain his success, especially since he hasn't won any other tournament in successive years. He won last year's event by six strokes — the same margin of victory as the previous year.
"They were also by almost the identical scores," said Hayashi about his repeat victories when the event was played at the Hawai'i Prince Course in 'Ewa.
Tomori thinks it is because there's no place like home.
"For me, it's coming back home after being seven months on the road. It's nice to be with family and friends again. I feel comfortable in that regard," said Tomori, who plays on the SBC Futures Tour.
Of the three, Tomori is the best bet to repeat as a champion because of her pro tour experience. The women, though, will have an expanded field that will include two heralded pre-teen sensations: Michelle Wie, 12, and Stephanie Kono, 11. It will also have Leah Whiting, a Waiakea High School senior who captured the American Junior Golf Association national title in Colorado during the summer.
Tomori is coming off her third — and, she said, her most disappointing — attempt to qualify for an LPGA Tour playing card. She missed the cut in the Final Qualifying School tournament this month.
"I'm really disappointed because I had more expectations this time," said the 25-year-old Hilo native, who also made the final stage in 1998 and 2000 only to miss the cut both times.
"I had just turned pro so making it the first time was exciting," Tomori said. "(Missing) the second time was pretty disappointing because I had just won the Futures Tour Championship, but this time was really disappointing."
She plans to spend the next three months at home working on her game and working at the Navy-Marine Golf Course. Former LPGA pro Pam Kometani will be helping her with her game, according to Tomori.
Hayashi's chances of a three-peat will depend on how well he recovers from nagging neck and back pain. "Something is pinched," he said.
The pain kept him from playing in the Club Professional Championship Western Regionals in California recently. Kapalua's Todd O'Neal and Brian Sasada of Makena Resort qualified for the 2002 National CPC next June.
Meanwhile, Prince is still the senior to beat. He kept his streak alive last year despite a double-bogey, par, double-bogey and bogey finish to win by three strokes.
"I don't know what happened. There was no pressure on me with an eight-stroke lead," said Prince, who won the U.S. Men's Public Links Championship in 1978, the same year the women's title was won by another Hawai'i native, Lori Castillo.
Prince, 63, remembers when his streak started six years ago.
Trailing Fran Cipro at the turn on the final day, Prince knocked in an eagle-2 at Mauna Kea's first hole and never looked back.
"That got me jump-started," said Prince, who lives in Maui after moving back to the islands in 1990.
If there is any new wrinkle, it is that the venue of the Hawai'i State Open has changed to Makaha, a last-minute change from the Makena Resort, which is renovating one of its two courses.
All three defending champions are looking forward to playing at Makaha, site of the Hawai'i State Open in 1984 and 1985, both of which won by David Ishii.
"It's not an easy course," said Hayashi, who won the 1993 ANA Sheraton Makaha Open, the last tournament that was played there. "(Holes) 5, 6, 7 and 8 are a tough stretch."
"I like the course. With water on the last two holes, your nerves will be tested," Prince said.
Tomori has never played in a competitive tournament at Makaha.
"The course is in great shape and the fairways are narrow," said Tomori, who got in a practice round Sunday.
Gerald Isobe in Hall of Fame
Congratulations to Honolulu's Gerald Isobe, who has been selected to the Rochester Institute of Technology Sports Hall of Fame. He will be one of six athletes who will be inducted Nov. 10 at the Brook-Lea Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. Isobe, a 1976 RIT graduate, is the only golfer among the six.
Isobe played on the university's golf team from 1972-76, qualifying for the NCAA Championships three times. In 1982, Isobe became the first winner of the USGA National Deaf Championships. He finished 13th, 10th and third in the past three World Deaf Golf Championships.
He and his wife, Karen, have two children — Brandon, 13, and Brittany, 11. Both have taken up the game of golf.
Governor's Cup
The 12-man amateur team is set for the 28th Governor's Cup, which will be played Nov. 25-26 at the Mid-Pacific Country Club for the first time. Based on their performances this year, Brandan Kop and Joe Phengsavath topped the point totals with 920 with Ryan Koshi, the Manoa Cup champion, third with 915 points.
They will be joined by Kellen-Floyd Asao, Randy Shibuya, Gabriel Wilson, Del-Marc Fujita, Jonathan Ota, Paul Kimura, Norman-Ganin Asao, Jarett Hamamoto and Parker McLachlin. The five alternates, in order, are Shannon Shibuya, Clayton Gomi, Grant Yasui, Michael Ukauka and Steve Pleas.
The 12 top pros are Kevin Hayashi, Brian Sasada, Casey Nakama, Kevin Carll, Doug Bohn, Jerry Mullen, Ron Castillo Jr., Regan Lee, Todd O'Neal, Lance Suzuki, Brendan Moynahan and Beau Yokomoto. But whether they will be able to play in the Ryder Cup-type event will depend on other commitments.
Bill Kwon can be reached at bkwon@aloha.net.
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