It has been a rough year on the golf course, but LPGA star Michelle Wie is offering the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association a lift — again. She will be the new title sponsor for the Michelle Wie HSJGA Tournament of Champions in December at Wailea Golf Club.
The Punahou graduate, who turns 23 in two weeks, won the TOC’s 15-18 girls division in 2002 — when she was 12. It was a springboard to becoming one of the most popular, and well paid, female athletes in the world.
Along with becoming title sponsor, Wie will donate her time and collectibles, and match the first $10,000 in donations in an online fundraising campaign.
"This is my chance to give back to the organization and help the young golfers in Hawaii grow in this game that’s given me so much," Wie said in a press release. "The HSJGA and I go way back to when I was just a kid who loved to hit the ball a long way. They gave me the opportunity to develop my game and competitive drive in an open, nurturing environment. They really made it possible for me to take my game to the next level."
This year’s TOC field will have approximately 75 players, including 50 winners from the 23 HSJGA tournaments in 2012. Past champions include Alex Ching, Stephanie Kono, Lorens Chan, Cassy Isagawa, Tadd Fujikawa and Miki Ueoka.
"I am so proud of Michelle in reaching out to the HSJGA to build a partnership," said Mary Bea Porter-King, the HSJGA president. "She is truly leading by example by giving back. … I really don’t think Michelle realizes the enormity of her positive impact on junior golf, not only in Hawaii but across the United States and the world."
Wie will be at the tournament, which has been sponsored for the past decade by Hali‘imaile Pineapple Company. This year the dates are Dec. 15-16 — the same weekend as the Mauna Lani Resort Hawaii State Open.
