Golf Briefs
Dugas takes Aloha Section PGA Pro title
Kuki‘o pro Eric Dugas ran away with his second straight tournament Tuesday, capturing the Aloha Section PGA Professional Championship by seven shots at Poipu Bay.
Dugas closed with a 5-under 67 to win $4,000. His two-day total was 7-under 137. Pukalani’s Matt Pakkala (71—144) and Hilo Muni’s Keven Hayashi (73—144) tied for second and Puakea’s Ron Castillo (73—146) was fourth.
By winning, Dugas earned the section’s exemption into the 2012 Sony Open in Hawaii. The top three also qualified for the PGA Professional National Championship.
Dugas set a tournament record when he won the Kona Open last month by eight shots.
Hopoi, Ashima tie for second at junior worlds
Donny Hopoi and Kengo Aoshima each tied for second at last week’s Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego. State high school champion Eimi Koga took third in the 15-17 division to lead Hawaii’s girls.
More than 1,100 golfers representing 54 countries and 42 states played in the event.
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Hopoi, 14, charged into second with a final-round 67 in the Boys 13-14 division. His three-day total of 211 left him three shots out of first.
Aoshima also got hot, closing with a 68 to pull into second at 209, 11 shots out of first in Boys 11-12. Hawaii’s Kyosuke Hara (73—214) and Shawn Lu (69—217) also were Top 12. Pono Yanagi (68—193) was 11th in Boys 9-10.
Koga won a Junior World title last year in the 13-14s, and charged into third this year in the oldest division, which plays four rounds. Koga fired a 2-under 70 Friday at Torrey Pines North. Her 290 total was nine shots out of first.
Koga was the only American in the top four, but one of three Hawaii golfers in the Top 11. ‘Iolani senior Marissa Chow (75—294) tied for ninth and Baldwin graduate Cassy Isagawa (73—295) got a share of 11th. Hilo’s Ciera Min (72—300) was 26th.
In other girls divisions, Amy Giang took sixth in 7-8s, at 66—187, Miki Manta (59—179) was ninth in 9-10s and Mariel Galdiano (76—222) tied for 11th in 13-14s.
100-hole challenge set
The Aloha Section PGA is staging a PGA Golf Day 100 Hole Challenge, Aug. 29 at Kauai Lagoons. Members of the Board of Directors will play 100 holes in a day, ideally with one ball.
The goal is to raise $10,000, with 70 percent of the money going to the section foundation and 30 percent to the ASPGA Japan Tsunami Relief Fund.
Golfers include Lance Taketa, Eddie Lee and Scott Ashworth. All are asking for donations per hole. To contribute, visit pgagolfday.com and click on “Aloha” to make a donation. To participate, contact the section office at 593-2230 or aloha@pgahq.com.
NOTES
» Kamehameha sophomore Donny Hopoi shot 71-71, then beat Punahou graduate Bradley Shigezawa (72-70) on the first playoff hole to win Hawaii’s USGA Amateur qualifier Monday at Kapolei Golf Club. Alternates are Shigezawa and Honoka‘a graduate Sean Maekawa (78-65). The field of 31 came from Hawaii, Texas and Japan. This year’s U.S. Amateur Championship is Aug. 22-28 at Erin Hills Golf Course in Wisconsin.
» Manoa Cup champ David Fink and Makawao’s Alex Chiarella both lost 1 up on the 19th hole in the second round of the 110th Pacific Northwest Men’s Amateur Championship, last week at the Tetherow course in Bend, Ore.
» Golf writer Dick Mudry will be a guest on the Emily T. Gail Show Sunday 7/24 at 6 p.m. on ESPN AM-850 Hilo/AM-790 Kona. Mudry will talk about last week’s British Open, the upcoming PGA Championship and the LPGA. Mauna Kea head pro Johnny Eusebio will also be a guest and give updates on the 38th annual Mauna Kea Invitational and new kamaaina programs.