At 6 feet 1 Michelle Wie stands tall as the newest champion of the U.S. Women’s Open. Many golf fans in Hawaii are reveling in the Punahou graduate’s win.

But for those paying attention, another player from Hawaii, ‘Iolani graduate Marissa Chow, provided the early thrills.

A full foot shorter than Wie, the Pepperdine junior qualified for the event by winning a regional in Oak Valley, Calif., and surprised even herself when she made a 40-foot birdie putt on the first hole of her first U.S. Open. She followed by sticking a short iron to 4 feet at the second hole and made that putt too. She missed making a third straight birdie on the third hole when her uphill 6-footer missed by one inch. It was as if Chow was not aware the Pinehurst No. 2 course is known for taking down even the most seasoned players.

After three holes, Chow was just one shot behind tournament favorite Stacy Lewis, who was already in the house with a 3-under-par 67. Would 20-year-old Chow dare challenge Lewis and other veterans seeking golf’s most coveted prize?

Her longtime coach, Bo Hunter, told her before the tournament started, "Don’t be surprised if you see your name on the leaderboard."

He told Chow she has the game to compete at this level and that should be her mind-set. Chow wasn’t watching leaderboards.

"I’m thinking, ‘Wow I’m hitting the ball good today’ and was really happy about that. I didn’t really know where I stood at the time."

With her aunt Lenore Muraoka Rittenhouse carrying her bag, Chow made a solid par on the fourth hole.

Hawaii golf fans recall Muraoka had a long career on the LPGA Tour and lives near Pinehurst. She is familiar with the treacherous greens and looked on with amazement as Chow delivered the most dramatic moment of the round. Chow had a 25-footer at the fifth to tie Lewis at 3-under par. The putt was struck solidly, but as it approached the hole it ran out of steam and hung agonizingly onto the front lip for what seemed like an eternity.

Just as Chow appeared resigned to accepting par the ball seemed to reach out on its own and disappear to the bottom of the cup. Marissa Chow was tied for the lead in the U.S. Open.

"I know I had 10 seconds and when it went in and all the spectators started clapping. It was just surreal," she said. "I felt a lot of love from the crowd and my playing partners."

On the next hole, confidence bubbling over, Chow flushed a 5-iron to within 10 feet. Would she have the audacity to actually take the lead?

She stepped up and calmly drained the putt. The buzz immediately swept across the Pinehurst property. A young player from Hawaii had seized the lead and her name was not Michelle Wie.

Welled up with emotion, Hunter watched teary-eyed from outside the ropes.

Chow didn’t know she just took the lead. "I’m thinking I just want to make par because it’s a tough hole. I wasn’t expecting birdie and didn’t know I had the lead, but on the next tee I saw all these camera guys running toward me."

The game provides the greatest of highs and the lowest of lows, double bogeys at 8, 9, and 10 began the great equalizer, the golf course itself. Gutsy par saves at 12, 13, 14, and 15 proved Chow’s mettle before rain halted play. A sleepless night and early tee time the following day contributed to a 76-80 missed cut.

In the end it was indeed a young woman from Hawaii who won the Open and golf fans everywhere know who she is. Michelle Wie captured the first of what most believe will be many major tournament victories.

But for those paying attention, for a brief moment, all eyes were on the other Hawaii woman. History is written on every hole in such a prestigious tournament and history will show that after seven holes in 2014 Marissa Chow of Hawaii was the leader in her first U.S. Open.

Chow looks at it more practically: "It was an eye-opening experience playing with the best players in the world and I gained a lot of confidence. It showed me I do have the game to play with pros. I think I want to give it a try after college. Grad school might have to be put on hold."

Three-time Open champion and Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam sought out Chow in the players lounge at week’s end and told Marissa, "It was really exciting watching you play golf."

They ate lunch together. The final entree in a memory filled week at the Open.

Gary Sprinkle, a former TV anchor, is partner in Sprinkle Media Solutions and a friend of both Bo Hunter and Marissa Chow.