Ping-Pong back in Wie’s life
"Wie Loves Ping-Pong," the hugely successful Hawaii State Junior Golf Association fundraiser from two years ago, will make a return in April.
The 16-team invitation-only event is planned for April 16, from 5-10 p.m. The site and more information will be available later, including the names of the LPGA players — beyond Hawaii’s Michelle Wie — who will participate.
The 2016 Lotte Championship is April 13-16 at Ko Olina Resort. Wie won the Lotte at home in 2014 — the same year she captured the U.S. Women’s Open. She also finished second, to Daniel Dae Kim’s team, in the inaugural event.
Hayashi still moving along
Three solid rounds put Kevin Hayashi in great position and the Hilo golfer eased through Champions Tour Regional Qualifying, despite shooting 77 in Friday’s final round.
Hayashi opened with rounds of 72-70-69 in San Jacinto, Calif., and ended up tied for ninth. He was 13 shots behind medalist Jim Rutledge and two ahead of Japanese star Joe Ozaki.
The top 17, in a field of 59, advanced to final Q-School, Dec. 1-4. The top five there earn Champions Tour cards for 2016.
Hayashi, 53, is a member of the Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame and an eight-time Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year.
Ching ties for 15th in China series
Punahou alum Alex Ching closed with a 7-under-par 65 Sunday to tie for 15th at the PGA Tour China Series Nine Dragons Open, in JiaXing City.
Ching, an All-American at University of San Diego, made the cut on the number after opening with rounds of 75-77. He shot 70 Saturday, then had the tournament’s lowest round Sunday.
He finished eight shots out of first. It was Ching’s first top 50 in his six starts on the tour this year. He is 81st on the Order of Merit.
Maui’s Taeksoo (T.K.) Kim is 14th on the list, winning $35,000-plus in eight starts. Kim, who graduated from Boise State, has three top-10 finishes this year, including a second at the Lushan Open.
