Seungjae "SJ" Maeng flew home just long enough to run away with the U.S. Army Hawaii Amateur Invitational championship.

The 2012 Moanalua graduate shot 67 the first two rounds at Leilehua, then coasted home Saturday with a 71 to finish at 11-under-par 205. It was good for a five-stroke victory over former Menehune teammate Brent Grant, who was trying to defend his title.

"He’s a level above …," Grant said with a shrug. "Today he just proved he was human."

Maeng is headed back to University of the Pacific next week for his senior season. Grant is on his way to Oregon State for his freshman year. They meet up again in a month at the St. Mary’s Invitational in Pebble Beach, Calif.

"It will be cool to see him," Grant grinned.

Maeng’s last win in Hawaii was the 2011 Mayor’s Cup. He stayed in Stockton, Calif., for summer school this year and played some of the bigger California amateur events.

Clearly he learned as much on the course as in the classroom.

"I’ve been playing a lot of tournaments on the mainland and the courses are way tougher there," Maeng says. "I’ve been playing good this summer and this past season, so I knew I was going to have a good tournament. I just needed to relax and have fun. When I got here, it felt a lot easier."

Leilehua’s front nine was the most fun. Maeng played it in 11 under the first two days, and "slipped up a little" on the back both days. He was only 1 under at the turn in the final round, but his advantage was almost double digits.

"Today was a little scrappy. I relied on my short game," he said. "It was up and down for sure."

So was everyone else, with the notable exception of reigning Manoa Cup champion Tyler Ota, who pulled into third with a 65 Saturday.

That would have been enough for Colin Laszlo, second going into the final round, to overtake Maeng the final day. Instead, Laszlo shot 75 and took fifth at 213.

In another "woulda-shoulda-coulda" moment for the only senior on Punahou’s state championship team this year, Laszlo came within a few millimeters of finishing third alone. The tees were moved up on the par-4 18th, enticing golfers to drive the green. Laszlo did, his tee shot barely missing the hole.

Grant and University of Hawaii senior Scotty Yamashita, who tied for third with Ota at 212, went into the final round six back. They could have forced a playoff with Ota’s score, but neither could break 70 in the gusty conditions.

"I was thinking about setting the course record today," said Grant, who closed with a 70. "Johnny (Oda, another former Menehune) shot 62 a few weeks ago, so I wanted to shoot 62 or something low."

It didn’t happen and Maeng cruised. His goal now, after top 25s at his first three conference championships, is to earn All-America honors his final season at UOP.