Kevin Hayashi, Christel Tomori and Dean Prince might as well be wearing targets when they step into the tee box for today's first round of the 2001 Williams & Associates Hawai'i State Open.
| • |
Hawai'i State Open
• WHAT: 2001 Williams & Associates Hawai'i State Open.
• WHERE: Makaha Resort Golf Club.
• WHO: Qualifying male and female pros and amateurs, including defending champions Kevin Hayashi (Open), Christel Tomori (Women) and Dean Prince (Seniors).
• WHEN: From 7 a.m. today and tomorrow and 8 a.m. Saturday, off first and 10th tees. Cut after 36 holes.
• ADMISSION: Free.
|
 |
Prince, from Lahaina, has won every senior title since the division started in 1996. Tomori has captured the last three women's championships and Hayashi the last two championship titles.
Lori (Castillo) Planos won three straight from 1993-95, and Steve Veriato (1977-78), David Ishii (1984-85), Dick McClean (1990-91) and Scott Simpson (1993-94) have successfully defended championships. But no woman has won four consecutive years and no man three since the event started in 1974.
This year, the state's premier open championship will be played at Makaha Resort Golf Club. The field is made up of exempt players, from a list of performance criteria, and Monday qualifiers. Male amateurs must have a handicap index of 6.6 or less to play, and female amateurs an index of 10.1 or less.
The men's professional purse is $35,000. There are $8,000 purses for the women and seniors, while the male amateurs play for $5,000 in gift certificates
Hayashi's competition in the championship flight includes Ron Castillo Jr., John Hearn, Tommy Hines, Reynold and Regan Lee, Casey Nakama, Larry Stubblefield, Lance Suzuki and Beau Yokomoto.
The women's flight includes 11-year-old Stephanie Kono and 12-year-old Michelle Wie, who combined to win all three women's majors this year, and pros Dawn Kaneshiro, Lesly Ann Komoda and Marga Stubblefield.
Rodney Acia, Ron Castillo, Mike Iyoki and Tommy Ukauka are in the Senior flight.
• Waikoloa raises $13,000: More than 100 golfers played in the Waikoloa Kings' American Red Cross Disaster Relief tournament Oct. 12. The benefit raised more than $13,000.
The winning team was Myron Yamasato, Derrick Fukumoto, Jay Taise and Scott Mekle, who shot a scramble score of 14-under-par 58.
