Wie getting the word out about junior golf

Dangling the bonus of "getting to see seriously embarrassing pics of me as a kid that my dear friends @HSJGA have dug up," Michelle Wie announced the launch of an online "crowdfunding campaign" for Hawaii junior golf this week.

Wie, a Punahou graduate now ranked 49th in the world, got her start in the game with coach Casey Nakama and the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association. Last week, the HSJGA announced she would be the new title sponsor of its annual Tournament of Champions. Wie will be on Maui for the event, Dec. 15-16 at Wailea.

This week, Wie is taking to Twitter — and her 92,000 followers — to talk up the new fundraiser. She is offering perks to encourage donations and promoting the campaign with her social media influence. In the first two hours, she raised $2,380. Her goal is to raise "$30,000 and beyond."

"It’s just like Michelle to dream big and set her goals high — I wouldn’t expect anything less," HSJGA president Mary Bea Porter-King said. "Since the day I first met Michelle at age 10, before she hit the national scene, I soon realized this little girl was unique with limitless dreams."

The Michelle Wie HSJGA Tournament of Champions is a primary fundraiser for the HSJGA. Proceeds go directly to operational costs, new tournament development and Hawaii youth golf development. HSJGA also hopes to use funds to award travel scholarships.

Wie is matching every dollar of the first $10,000 raised. Nike Golf and Kia, two of her sponsors, have joined in support of the campaign. Current "perks" include Twitter Shout Outs, autographed thank you notes and photos and two sponsorship packages ($1,500 and $5,000) that include a clinic from Wie and round of golf during the TOC.

The Fundraising Campaign is linked at HSJGA.org.

Sony Open tickets on sale

Tickets are on sale for the 2013 Sony Open in Hawaii, Jan. 10-13 at Waialae Country Club. Johnson Wagner is expected to defend his title in the $5.6 million tournament, which is the first full-field PGA Tour event of the year. The invitation-only Hyundai Tournament of Champions is Jan. 4-7 at Kapalua Plantation on Maui.

General admission tickets and VIP Champions Club hospitality packages are for sale online at friends ofhawaii.org. First Hawaiian Bank branches will serve as ticket outlets on Oahu beginning in December.

Admission is free Monday and Tuesday of tournament week and $15 daily Wednesday through Sunday, if purchased in advance. Tickets at the gate are $20 daily. Season badges are $50 and good for admission all week.

For more information, call 523-7888, visit friends ofhawaii.org or e-mail friend@friendsofhawaii.org.

Familiar names dot local leaderboard

A host of familiar names rose to the top of the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association’s Oahu Junior Classic last weekend at Turtle Bay.

State high school champion John Oda and Punahou freshman Mariel Galdiano ran away with the titles in the oldest — and largest — age groups. Oda, a Moanalua junior, shot rounds of 68-66 for a two-day total of 8-under-par 134. He beat runners-up Andy Okita, Donny Hopoi and Eric Le by nine. Galdiano’s rounds of 68-70 were five better than Eimi Koga and Hana Furuichi.

Kyle Suppa (69—139) and Mari Nishiura (73—149) won the 13-14 titles. In 11-12s, champions were Len Yamada (77—156) and Lorraine Char (76—151). Millburn Ho (76—151) and Jacob Torres (76—155) captured the youngest (7-10) age groups.