Four Hawai'i junior golfers have qualified to play in the first First Hawaiian Bank Pro Junior Golf Challenge, which will be held Jan. 8 as part of Sony Open in Hawai'i week.
Gabriel Wilson and Jarett Hamamoto, both from Hilo, and Michelle Wie and Ayumi Hori, both from O'ahu, will be paired with PGA golfers in the two-person team, alternate-shot event at Waialae Country Club.
Tom Lehman and Paul Azinger have committed to play. They will be joined by four other professionals.
Wilson and Wie qualified by winning the 15-18 age division of the Hawa'i State Junior Golf Association's Tournament of Champions last week at Wailea, Maui.
Golfers qualified for the championship by winning a HSJGA tournament during the year.
Wilson shot a 74-73—147 to finish ahead of Earl Medeiros (72-76—148).
Wie, 12, chose to compete in the older division and won with a 75-77—152, ahead of Leah Whiting (80-76—156).
Hori qualified by collecting enough points during the season to win HSJGA Player of the Year honors.
Wilson also won Player of the Year honors. Hamamoto, who finished third, was chosen as an alternate after the second-place player was no longer eligible for junior golf due to his age, according to tournament organizers.
First Hawaiian Bank will pick two additional junior golfers for the event.
The event will replace the Johnny Bellinger Shoot-Out, which was played for 15 years as a prelude to the Hawaiian and Sony Opens.
Of the $25,000 prize money, $13,000 will go to the pros, including $5,000 to the winner. The other $12,000 will benefit HSJGA
