For the seventh straight year, the Sony Open in Hawaii raised more than $1 million for Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc. The money was distributed to a record 160 not-for-profit organizations yesterday at the East-West Center.
The PGA Tour’s first full-field event of the year was won by Mark Wilson after a week of bad weather that forced cancellation of the pro-am and delayed the first round. The third and fourth rounds were played Sunday.
When Sony took over sponsorship of the Hawaiian Open in 1999, along with Friends of Hawaii Charities, the tournament distributed $256,000 to 43 groups. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc., came on board later to match funds that are raised.
Grant recipients primarily serve Hawaii children, women, elderly and the impoverished. This year’s recipients included Aloha Harvest, the Alzheimer’s Association Aloha Chapter, Ballet Hawaii, Family Promise Hawaii, HUGS, Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs, Kokua Kalihi Valley, MADD Hawaii, Molokai Arts Center Inc., Operation Homefront, Peanut Butter Ministry and Surfing the Nations.
The 2012 Sony Open is Jan. 12-15.
‘Iolani junior Chan has been on a roll
‘Iolani junior Lorens Chan played five rounds of golf in 24 under par last week. He won the David S. Ishii Foundation/HHSAA Boys State Championship by four shots Wednesday. On Sunday, he defended his Hickam AFB Invitational title at Mamala Bay Golf Course by five.
Chan set a tournament record in the two-day high school tournament, firing rounds of 66-67 at an unusually benign Waikoloa Village. His total of 11-under-par 133 was two better than the scores that won for Jim Seki in 1998 and Sean Maekawa in 2007.
Chan followed with rounds of 68-65-70 at Mamala Bay for a 13-under 203.
Next up for Chan is the 103rd Manoa Cup, June 13-18 at Oahu Country Club.
Porter-King to get national award
Kauai’s Mary Bea Porter-King will receive the Distinguished Service Award at the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association 60th National Awards Dinner, June 7 in New York. Others being honored include PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, Ernie Els and broadcaster Jim Nantz.
