Zane pulls off final-hole drama to win Hilo Invitational by a shot

Stephen Zane got up and down from 200 yards out on the final hole to win the 14th annual Hilo Invitational by a shot Sunday. He collected $5,000 in his first tournament as a pro.

The Baldwin High graduate was 4 under for the day going into the final four holes. He three-putted the 15th for bogey, then hit his drive into the trees on the 17th and had to punch out left-handed, leading to another bogey.

On the last hole, Zane hooked his drive and the golf ball planted itself into the trunk of a paper bark tree. He took a drop, punched out to the fairway and, from 200 yards out, put the ball 10 feet from the hole. The bogey putt gave him a 1-under-par 70 and a two-day total of 138.

Zane, 24, graduated last year from the University of Hawaii-Hilo with a degree in aquaculture. He beat former teammate Neil Cabico (71) and Nick Mason (67) by a shot.

Cabico earned low amateur honors. Mason, another former Vulcan, was trying to win his fourth Hilo title since 2004.

Zane’s next start will be the 53rd Mid-Pacific Open, April 15-17 in Lanikai.

UH last in San Jose

Hawaii was last in the 12-team Juli Inkster Spartan Invitational, which ended Tuesday at the Almaden Golf and Country Club in San Jose, Calif.

The Wahine’s top finisher was freshman Anna DePalma, who closed with an 8-over-par 80 for a 54-hole total of 239. She tied for 45th. Junior Erika Lundberg was another shot back.

Ninth-ranked Cal won the team title with a score of 881, while UH finished at 971. Cal’s Emily Childs was medalist at 216.

Hawaii’s next tournament is the 19-team Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, March 14-15 at the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course. The UH men play in the Fresno State Lexus Classic Monday and Tuesday at Sunnyside Country Club.

Jones to aid renovation

Robert Trent Jones Jr. has agreed to oversee the renovation of Princeville’s Prince Golf Course, which closed Jan. 29 to complete a bunker renovation that started in September. Additional course upgrades were included and more will be added with the addition of Jones’ RTJII Golf Course Architects.

Renovations include new Seashore Paspalum greens, tee leveling throughout the course, improved drainage and installation of new irrigation. The greens renovation will also include minor reshaping of the first and last holes. To complete the renovation and allow time for new greens to grow in, the reopening of the Prince Course is now tentatively planned for October.

Heritage Links will manage all golf and club operations in addition to handling the construction and renovation work. Heritage completed the renovation of the Princeville Makai Course in 2009. That project was tentatively scheduled for less than a year, but the renovation was expanded and the course was closed 15 months.

Roosevelt roundup set

Roosevelt’s girls and boys golf teams are hosting a fundraiser to pay for their practice fees and travel expenses. The inaugural Roosevelt High School Golf Roundup will be March 12 from 6-10 p.m. The dinner concert is at Ige’s Restaurant and 19th Puka. Tickets are $25.

The teams are also looking for donations of goods or services to be used as prizes and silent auction items. For more information, contact Roosevelt coach Joey Itagaki at itagaki@gmail.com or 228-4128.