Sawada gets better of Hattori at Army Invitational

Jared Sawada and Richard Hattori have provided the 1-2 Hawaiian punch all summer in amateur golf. Nothing changed at the Army Invitational on Saturday.

In a stroke-play sequel to their Manoa Cup final, Sawada again outlasted Hattori. The former Rainbow Warrior fired a 4-under-par 68 in the final round at Leilehua Golf Course to win by three shots.

Hattori birdied three of the last five holes — "That’s Richard Hattori, right there," Sawada grinned — to shoot 71.

They shared the lead going into the final round.

Hattori finished at 6-under 210, two ahead of Hawaii junior Ryan Kuroiwa, who had the day’s only other under-par score (71).

First-round leader Scotty Yamashita (72—213), a UH sophomore, was next, followed by Pacific sophomore Seungjae Maeng (72—216). Defending champion Matthew Ma tied for ninth. A year ago, he was dominating amateur golf in Hawaii. Now Sawada and Hattori, both on the verge of going pro, have taken over.

Sawada, who just graduated with a sociology degree, won the Manoa Cup — the state amateur match-play championship — by a 2-and-1 score over the 17-year-old Hattori. The two combined for 18 birdies over 35 holes.

Since then, Hattori has won big at Princeville and Barbers Point. Last November, he beat Sawada in a playoff to earn the amateur slot at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Kuroiwa was only a shot off Sawada’s pace at the turn Saturday, tied for second with Hattori. But he was 1 over on the back and Yamashita 2 over.

That left it to the boys of summer.

Sawada twice hit 3-irons within 10 feet for birdie, describing it as "kind of sick." The first came on the par-3 12th.

He birdied that, then launched another "Sawada Cutie" cut shot to the 13th green that stopped 9 feet from the pin.

He converted that radically breaking putt to go to 9 under, while Hattori made his second straight bogey.

Suddenly the gap was six and Hattori’s hot finish — he came within a foot of eagle at the 14th — could only cut that in half.

"Just got started too late," Hattori said. "I was just missing it in the wrong places. Missing it where I’m not supposed to. I got too greedy today."

Sawada missed just seven greens in regulation in three days, and had only two three-putts.

"Everything was just perfect with Jared," Hattori said. "He was putting lights out. He’s been playing real good.

"It seems like he has no weaknesses in his golfing now, no part of his game is weak now."

Next up is the Oahu Country Club Invitational in two weeks, back at the site of their Manoa Cup showdown.

"I’m pretty excited about that," Sawada said. "I feel like I understand that course a lot better.

"It’s crazy, to win two tournaments in one summer. My game is definitely better than it was at Manoa Cup. Well, it’s a little better."

Phil Anamizu (77—220) won the senior flight. Other flight winners were Vernon Hoffman (77—233) in A, Arnold Fukumoto (81—236) in B and Chad Yamasaki (80—252) in C.