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Todd Rego, Matt Ma and Brandan Kop, who have won a combined 11 titles, are the first threesome out today in the U.S. Army Hawaii Amateur Invitational.
Rego is the defending champion, winning in 2010 and 2001. There was no tournament last year because of Leilehua renovations. Ma, this year’s Manoa Cup champion, won the 2005 Army Invitational. He was second in 2007, when Kop won his eighth title, and last year.
Rego, Ma and Kop go out at 6:30 this morning and 1:03 p.m. Friday. The field will be cut after the second round. The tournament concludes Saturday.
The field also includes Seungjae Maeng, Alika Bell, Nick Matsushima, Cory Oride, Ryan Kuroiwaand Jared Sawada, who won the Prince Invitational Sunday.
Chan shoots 68, just 1 back at 110th Western Amateur
A second-round 68 Wednesday moved Honolulu’s Lorens Chan a shot out of first in the 110th Western Amateur Championship, at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park, Ill.
Chan opened with 2-under-par 70 Tuesday. After consecutive bogeys Wednesday, he had five birdies in a 12-hole span to climb one back of Abraham Ancer, who also shot 68.
There are players from 34 states and 11 countries in the 156-man field, including six of the world’s top 10 amateurs. The top 44 and ties advance to today’s third round. The field will be cut to 16 after Friday’s fourth round.
Corpuz, Galdiano contenders at Jr. event
Hawaii’s Allisen Corpuz is tied for 16th halfway through the 37th Junior PGA Championship, at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Corpuz followed up a first-round 73 with a 74 Wednesday and is at 3-over-par 147, 11 shots out of first. Mariel Galdiano (76—148) is another shot back.
Both girls will be freshmen at Punahou this fall.
Moanalua junior John Oda, the reigning state high school champion, rallied to shoot 72 after opening with a 79. He is 12 shots off the pace in the boys division.
There is a 54-hole cut after today’s round, with the top 30 and ties playing Friday’s final round.
The field includes past champions, PGA Junior Series and section winners, and Polo Golf and Golfweek’s top-ranked juniors.
Tickets on sale for season-opening Mitsubishi
Tickets for the 2013 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai are on sale at pgatour.com/tickets or by calling 800-417-2770. The Champions Tour’s season-opening event will be Jan. 18-20.
Weekly grounds tickets are $25 in advance and a one-day pass is $15. Kids 18 and under are free with a ticketed adult.
The Mitsubishi field is made up of 2011 and 2012 tournament champions, winners of Champions Tour majors from the past five years and special invitees. Players eligible so far include Mark Calcavecchia, Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman, Mark O’Meara, Corey Pavin, Kenny Perry and Tom Watson.
Notes
» Aiea’s Kristin Le rallied after an opening-round 82 to take seventh in the Girls 15-18 division of the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships, which finished Sunday at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Le shot 74-72-73 the final three days to finish eight shots out of first. Punahou senior Kalena Preus was 15th in the Boys 16-18 division, with rounds of 72-73-74-74.
» The ninth annual Women Drivers Golf Tournament, which benefits Women’s Fund of Hawaii, will be Oct. 22 at Mid-Pacific Country Club. Cost is $600 for a four-person team or $150 for an individual. Registration deadline is Oct. 12. For more information, visit womensfundhawaii.org or call 954-9653.
» U.S. Senior Open champion Roger Chapman, who also won the Senior PGA Championship this year, is featured on the current Emily T. Gail Show, on espnhawaii.com. Chapman’s major victories give him a five-year exemption to the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in January. Media covering the Open and Joe Goode, managing director of the USGA, will also be on the show.
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