Locals happy to be on roster

More than a year had passed since Jared Sawada lost a playoff for a shot to play in the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Kirk Nelson had gone 11 years since teeing off in a PGA Tour event.

So the local representatives in this year’s field savored the opportunity when they reported to Waialae Country Club for their first-round tee times on Thursday.

Sawada and Nelson claimed special exemptions available to local amateurs and pros to be part of the 144-player field, and while they finished the round well down the leaderboard, both were highly appreciative of having their names in the tournament’s player roster.

"It was pretty cool to see my name there and have that feeling of, ‘Wow I’m here with these guys that I always watch on TV," said Sawada, a Mililani graduate and former University of Hawaii golfer.

Sawada finished his round at 8-over 78. Nelson, the pro at Elleair Maui Golf Club in Kihei, enters today’s second round at 4-over 74.

Sawada earned the amateur exemption by winning a qualifier with a 2-under-par 70 at Waialae on Nov. 25. He led local amateurs in Governor’s Cup points last year, including victories in the Manoa Cup and Oahu Country Club Men’s Invitational.

Sawada came tantalizingly close to making it into last year’s Sony Open but lost a playoff with Richard Hattori.

"The entire year I waited for this and I worked really hard after I lost to Richard last year in the playoff," Sawada said. "I wanted it more than anything and now I’m here."

Nelson won the Aloha Section PGA Professional Championship held in November at Mauna Kea Golf Course, which also comes with the Sony Open exemption. He last played in the event in 2003.

"It was awesome just being out there. Considering I’m in 115th place, it felt a lot better than that. It was a lot of fun actually," Nelson said. "I was pretty thrilled. It’s way cool to be out here and I’m a fan of these guys too."

Eric Dugas, formerly the pro at Kukio Golf and Beach Club, shot an even-par 70 after playing his way into the tournament in Monday’s qualifier at Turtle Bay.

Spieth streak ends

Jordan Spieth hadn’t three-putted in several events, before carding one at the par-4 12th. It was his first one in 120 holes.

The last one occurred at the final hole of the second round of the HSBC Champions on Nov. 1. He did not have a single three-putt on the spacious greens of the Plantation Course en route to a second-place finish to eventual champion Zach Johnson.

Spieth opened with a 2-under 68.

Injury sidelines Matsuyama

Hideki Matsuyama withdrew because of a wrist injury. Matsuyama, the first rookie to win the Japan Golf Tour money title, played Wednesday’s Pro-Am, then pulled out with soreness in his wrist. He was replaced by Robert Streb.

Thompson team wins pro-am

Professional Michael Thompson and his team — Mike Chagami, Wayne Hamano, Eddie Ponciano and John Uekawa — fired a 21-under-par 49 Wednesday to win the Sony Open Pro-Am.

Despite breaking 50, they won by only one over Matt Kuchar’s team and two over John Huh’s.

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