Singh comes up short

Vijay Singh failed in his bid to become the 17th Champions Tour player to win his first event in Sunday’s final round of the Pacific Links Hawaii Championship at Kapolei Golf Club.

Singh entered the final 18 in second, two shots behind eventual winner Mark Wiebe, who beat Corey Pavin in a playoff. In the final group with both, Singh couldn’t keep pace with the veteran seniors, as his new swing failed him a bit on the back nine.

Singh closed with a 1-over 73, including a double bogey at the par-4 13th and bogeys at 15 and 18. Those bad shots more than covered up the birdies on the two par 5s as Singh finished tied for sixth at 8-under 208.

Local golfers hang tough

Part-time Hawaii resident Scott Simpson closed with a 1-over 73 to drop into a tie for 24th with a 54-hole score of 2-under 214. Simpson was tied for fifth through 15 during his second round, but played 3 over his final 21 holes.

Pearl City’s David Ishii didn’t fare as well, shooting a 6-over 78 to drop into a tie for 71st at 9-over 225. Both golfers had their moments in the blustery conditions. Ishii went 4 under on his first nine on Saturday and 5 under through 10, before reality set in.

Simpson said Saturday he plans on moving back to Hawaii with his wife in a couple of years. Simpson won the U.S. Open in 1987. He pocketed $16,087.59 Sunday. Ishii made $1,368.

Inside the numbers

The scoring average of 72.250 was the highest of the three rounds, as the wind blew hard for a third straight day. There were 14 rounds in the 60s and 47 at even par or better.

Pavin ran his string of rounds in the 60s to 11, just two shy of the record set by Hale Irwin in 1999. He parred the easiest hole, which was the par-5 17th with a scoring average of 4.525. There were two eagles, 38 birdies, 36 pars and four bogeys. The hardest hole was the par-4 13th with a scoring average of 4.412. There was only one birdie (by Gene Sauers), 48 pars, 28 bogeys and three doubles.