Three past champions and a former University of Hawaii quarterback topped the leaderboard at Monday’s qualifying round for the 110th Manoa Cup at Oahu Country Club.
Four-time champion Brandan Kop and 2015 winner Tyler Ota tied for medalist honors with rounds of 5-under-par 66, with Matthew Ma, the 2012 champion, another shot back.
Defending champion Andy Okita will be the top seed in the 64-player bracket when the state amateur match-play championship tees off today at 6:30 a.m.
Kop, who won the event in 1983, ‘86, ‘97 and ‘98, birdied his first three holes on Monday and circled five more on his scorecard to secure the second seed. Ota finished with seven birdies and will be the third seed. Ma birdied four of his first five holes on his way to a 67.
Hunter Hughes, who completed his UH football career last season, was among five players who carded rounds of 3-under 68 and will be the fifth seed in his Manoa Cup debut. Hughes was a scout-team quarterback for the Rainbow Warriors the last two seasons, graduated last December and now works in the pro shop at OCC.
“I wanted to get six birdies. I knew that I could and luckily the wind held off,” said Hughes, who grew up playing golf and remained active in the game while focusing on football in college. “I had the first tee time, so I got out there before the wind. … So the opportunities were definitely there and thankfully the putts were dropping.”
Punahou’s Evan Kawai, last year’s runner-up, was also part of the pack at 68 and is the sixth seed.
Brittany Fan, an honorable mention All-America selection as a senior at Colorado, led the women’s qualifying round at 1-over 72. Kaylee Shimizu of Wailuku followed at 3 over.
Fan posted a 73.16 stroke average for the Buffaloes this season and finished her career by helping Colorado reach the NCAA championships in Stillwater, Okla., last month.
Two-time women’s champion Mari Nishiura, an Oregon State sophomore, will not be back to defend her title in the 16-player bracket.
