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A record $1,070,000 was distributed by Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc., this month to 177 nonprofit organizations that operate programs for Hawaii’s children, women, elderly and impoverished.
The money was raised at this year’s Sony Open in Hawaii. The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc., is a partner and matches funds. It was the 10th consecutive year Friends of Hawaii surpassed its "Drive To A $Million" goal.
Sony Corporation, the PGA Tour and Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc., announced a four-year title sponsorship renewal in November. Sony is one of the five longest-running tournament sponsors on tour. The tournament has been played at Waialae Country Club since 1965.
The 2015 Sony Open in Hawaii is Jan. 15-18.
Huang, Elftman-Hanson are Junior PGA champs
Rose Huang and Ariel Elftman-Hanson won the Aloha Junior PGA Championship last weekend at Ka’anapali Kai, with Kristen Le and Andrew Chin capturing playoffs for the second spots.
The juniors will represent Hawaii at the nationals next month at Miramont Country Club in Bryan, Texas.
Elftman-Hanson, from Wailuku, shot 5-under-par 67 both days to win by two. Huang shot 71-72 and won by six.
Other age-group winners Sunday were Dillion Jonke and Minny Byun in the 7-10 division and Kolbe Irei and Milburn Ho in 11-12.
The Hawaii State Junior Golf Association’s King Auto 12-under State Junior Championship is this weekend at Hawaii Prince. The U.S. Senior Open qualifier is Monday at Waialae.
Sign ups
>> Golfers can still sign up for the second annual Hawaii Xpress Hoops Golf Tournament, scheduled for June 19 at Pearl Country Club. The event raises money for the basketball club, formed by Aiea High School’s Rodney Cavaco and Fran Villarmia-Kahawai, to travel to the End of the Oregon Trail Tournament next month.
The format is three-person scramble and the cost is $150 a player. Gold ($1,000), Silver ($800) and Bronze ($400) sponsorship levels are also available. For more information, call 542-3726.
>> Registration is open for the 58th annual Waialae Women’s Invitational, July 14-15 at the club. Entrants must be amateurs and have a USGA handicap index of 24.9 or better, and be 18 or older. The entry fee is $200 for the two-day tournament, cart and awards luncheon. The field is limited to 128. For more information, call Shera Hiam at 224-3830.
>> Entry forms are out for this year’s Hawaii State Women’s Golf Association Match Play Championship, July 16-18 at Oahu Country Club. Participants must have a USGA handicap index of 15.9 or less. The entry fee is $130. For more information, contact Gwen Omori (gcomori@hawaiiantel.net).
>> Applications are available for the Oahu Country Club Women’s Invitational, Aug. 18-19. The format is 36-hole Stableford scoring, with gross and net winners. The entry forms will be available at oahucountryclub.com and hswga.net. For more information, call Andrew Feldmann at 595-3256, ext. 2.
>> The 11th annual Women’s Fund of Hawaii Golf Tournament is Sept. 8 at Mid-Pacific Country Club. Teams and individuals can sign up at womensfundhawaii.org.
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