Hawaii golf’s Chan, Dugas had smashing 2011s

UCLA was hooked on Lorens Chan long before this year. A quick look at the list of Hawaii’s 2011 golf champions only adds fuel to the Bruins’ fire, and the ‘Iolani senior’s most memorable achievement might not be on the list.

Last month, Chan, who was born in Taiwan, finished second at the Fubon Senior Open. He was invited to play by sponsors of the European Senior Tour event, who are friends of his grandfather. Taiwan’s Chien Soon Lu won by five shots. The tournament was played at Miramar Golf and Country Club, where Chan’s grandfather lives. It was Chan’s first visit in eight years.

Hawaii Golf Hall of Famer David Ishii, who is Chan’s coach, won the previous two Fubon titles and finished fifth this year. Frankie Minoza, who played a practice round with Ishii and Chan, took third.

“All the players in the field are champions and many of them are legends,” Chan said before the tournament started. “I know Coach David will try his very best to defend his title and I wish him all the best. From the way he helped me to prepare for this tournament, I know he also wants me to do very well.”

Chan also won his second state high school and stroke play titles and the Hickam Invitational, by five shots. He was second at the 36th Junior PGA Championship, Turtle Bay Amateur and OCC Invitational.

Chan heads into 2012 with a signed letter of intent to play for UCLA in the fall — with Kamehameha-Maui’s Aaron Kunitomo — and a No. 23 national ranking.

Kukio Golf & Beach Club assistant pro Eric Dugas was the exception to the rule in a year dominated by juniors. Dugas won three Aloha Section PGA titles including the section championship, which will put him on the first tee at the Sony Open in Hawaii on Jan. 12. He also defended in record-breaking fashion at the Kona Open, captured the Pebble Beach National Pro Scratch Championship and reached the final stage of U.S. Open qualifying.

Maryknoll eighth-grader Mariel Galdiano played in the U.S. Women’s Open this year and Moanalua High School sophomore John Oda got on a roll that shows no signs of slowing.

The 15-year-old won the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Match Play title, was second in mixed team and Manoa Cup and also had top-fives at the Turtle Bay and state amateurs. Oda snagged Sony Open’s amateur slot in a shootout with his 11 victorious Governor’s Cup teammates.

Also in 2011, Oregon State sophomore David Fink became the 11th golfer to defend a Manoa Cup title in its 103 years. Pro Sam Cyr went home to win the Dunes at Maui Lani Maui Open and came back to capture the Turtle Bay Resort Hawaii State Open 10 days ago.

Kelli Oride won her fourth Kauai Interscholastic Federation championship and Cassy Isagawa her third straight Maui Interscholastic League title. Isagawa had the lowest scoring average of any D-I freshman this fall at Oregon (72.25), earning a place on Golf World’s Midseason All-Freshman Team.

James Madison senior Nicole Sakamoto captured the State Women’s Match and Stroke Play titles for the second straight summer.