Don’t ask Kyle Suppa, Shawn Lu and Kyosuke Hara how it felt when the pros used to beat up on the amateurs in the Gov. John A. Burns Challenge Cup.
They were 8 years old the last time the pros won. They also played prominent roles in the amateurs’ seventh straight victory Tuesday.
Amateurs captured eight of 12 singles matches on the final day of the 41st annual Burns Cup, overcoming an opening-day deficit to win 13-11 at Mid-Pacific Country Club. It was the closest score since 2009. The comeback cut the pros’ lead in the Ryder Cup-style event to 23-17-1.
"I knew it was going to be close; the pro team this year was really good,"said Tyler Ota, whose 1-up win over pro Brad Bowen was the point that clinched it. "They seem to get a little better each year. I’m pretty sure they have more incentive each year, but we’ve only won seven in a row, compared to how many times they’ve won. We’ve still got some catching up to do, but it’s nice to get this one with all the rookies on the team."
When Ota’s five first-time teammates were acknowledged at Sunday’s banquet, one pro yelled out, "So what, no school tomorrow?"
It was a legitimate question. Todd Rego, a 31-year-old special education teacher, was the oldest on the amateur team by lots. Seven teammates are in high school. Suppa, Hara and Lu are 15.
Hara and Lu, both sophomores at Moanalua, split their best-ball and alternate-shot matches against pros Joey Tadeo and Kevin Shimomura on Monday. Both lost in singles Tuesday, but Suppa — a Punahou sophomore –compensated with the day’s most compelling comeback.
Pearl Country Club pro Regan Lee, this year’s Aloha Section PGA Assistant champion, was 4 up on Suppa after six holes. Lee had three birdies, including a hole-out from the bunker, and Suppa three bogeys.
Then Suppa, who won the last two holes Monday with partner PJ Samiere to halve their match with Ryan Acosta and Jason Jackovac, shifted into overdrive.
He birdied five of the next eight to surge ahead, dropping two 20-foot-plus putts and hitting three approaches close.
Lee couldn’t catch up, falling 2 and 1. Ultimately, neither could the pros.
"Iremember two years ago we were losing by about the same margin (7-5)," amateur captain Phil Anamizu said. "The young kids just played their hearts out and came back. They won nine singles matches, I think. Traditionally, the professionals used to win the singles matches, but not these days.
"These young kids have got no fear. We have a new crop of players each year. They don’t know what it’s like to lose yet."
They also don’t know what fear is. "Not really,"Suppa said, trying to understand the concept. "Fear …no, no fear."
Former Gov. John Burns, an avid golfer, started the Cup in 1973 to promote the sport in Hawaii. His son Jim has taken over, and invited reigning Hawaii State Open champ Dean Wilson — a winner on the PGA Tour –to play this year.
Wilson went unbeaten, but it wasn’t enough. The kids now have too much talent, and too much time to practice.
"What I was telling our guys," said pro TJ Kua, who has played for both teams, "is I’m probably the only guy who might hit the same amount of balls as some of the amateurs. I work with Regan every day and he’ll hit 10 balls if he’s lucky. …I’m not sure about some of the others, but I know for most of us I hit the most balls, and it’s not nearly as much as it used to be."
Kua lost to Donny Hopoi in singles. Other amateur winners were Suppa, Ota, John Oda, Christian Akau, Rego, Brent Grant and Jared Sawada. Wilson, Jackovac, Tadeo and Kevin Shimomura got the four pro points.
The 12 amateurs play for the Sony Open in Hawaii amateur exemption Monday beginning at 9 a.m. at Waialae Country Club.
