Fan wins in return of Army Invitational

Last week’s return of the Army Women’s Invitational celebrated the revival of one of the oldest tournaments in Hawaii and the brilliance of another one of its precocious teens.

Brittany Fan fired 67 both days at Leilehua to win with a score of 10-under-par 134.

The Army Women’s started in 1955 – two years before organizers first thought and ran through 1985. The lowest winning score recorded back then was 150, shot by Lenore Muraoka in 1977. This is the tournament’s first year back. Former champions who are in the Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame include Muraoka, Bev Kim, Edna Lee Jackola, Hope Yee, Marga Stubblefield and Joan Damon.

Fan went to Kamehameha before finishing her final semesters online, in part to work on her golf game. She graduated in August and signed a letter of intent with Colorado in November, just before her 18th birthday.

She was the only amateur to reach the final round of last year’s Colorado Women’s Open and also finished 13th at the PGA Junior Championship.

This year, she plans to play the April 13 qualifier for the LPGA Lotte Championship at Ko Olina, along with the U.S. Women’s Open Sectional qualifier. On the mainland, she is scheduled for the North & South Women’s Amateur Championship at Pinehurst No. 8 in July, and the Canadian Women’s Amateur.

American Renaissance Academy junior Kaci Masuda, the only other player in Championship Flight, also broke par both days and finished four back.

Uta McLin (70-76-146) won A flight by eight strokes over Lisa Lae and Bev Kim, who both shot 77 each day.