KOHALA COAST, HAWAII ISLAND >> Nick Mason and Parker McLachlin zeroed in on the zone in Sunday’s final round of the Mauna Lani Resort Hawaii State Open. What followed was great golf theater.
Greater for Mason, it turned out, 7 hours after they started.
The former University of Hawaii-Hilo golfer collected his third Hawaii State Open championship — and 11th overall, in five states — with a birdie on the fifth playoff hole against McLachlin.
The Leilehua graduate, who closed with a 7-under-par 65 at the North Course, ultimately outlasted the Punahou graduate, who shot 66. They finished three flawless Mauna Lani days — a year after wild winds threatened to blow golfers off the course — tied at 13-under 203.
It is the lowest score since the tournament moved here in 2012. The Aloha Section PGA announced Sunday it will stay at Mauna Lani at least through 2018.
“I put my arm around Nick while we were waiting on the 16th and said, ‘What fun is this? We are both 7 under for the day,’” McLachlin said. “It was a great battle, great shot after great shot between the two of us.
“I had so much fun. Playing good is a lot of fun.”
Their brilliance was three better than Robbie Ormand (67) and five ahead of Maui’s Jake Grodzinsky (71) and Punahou senior Kyle Suppa (69), who earned low amateur honors. Three-time State Open champ — and PGA Tour winner — Dean Wilson (67) was another shot back.
Mason and McLachlin, who won on the PGA Tour in 2008, headed out for a playoff that looked like it might go into the Kohala Coast sunset.
After sweet shots to the green, McLachlin missed putts inside 6 feet for par on the last hole of regulation and birdie on the second playoff hole (par-3 17th).
Both would have ended it, but he rallied to make similar putts and stay in it on the next two holes.
Both pulled their second shots left of the green at the fifth and final playoff hole (par-5 No. 2). The pin got in the way of a Mason flop shot — “I got lucky” — and left him just 6 feet for birdie. He drained that for the $10,000 victory, after McLachlin’s delicate wedge didn’t reach the green and a chip for birdie just missed.
Mason’s first words when it was over were about “how good it is for Hawaii golf when Parker is playing well.” He recalled birdieing the first four holes and “still not shaking” McLachlin.
“As good as I played on the front nine I was only two up,” Mason said. “Then I bogeyed the 10th and he tied me with birdie on the 11th. He hit an unbelievable shot on the 15th — bladed a sand wedge that went in.”
Britney Yada rode a career-low 65 Saturday to the women’s championship. The 2009 Waiakea graduate closed with a 73 to beat 2013 champion Mari Chun by five.
Yada got home a week ago after playing in the final stage of LPGA Qualifying. She missed the 72-hole cut, but will again be eligible on the Symetra Tour next year. Yada, who graduated from Portland State in 2013 with an economics degree, made five cuts this year.
“The pressure (at Q-School) is enormous,” she said. “It’s all or nothing. You’re just trying to stay patient, but birdies are a must. Pars are not going to get you anything.”
She felt none of that pressure at home, in the serenity of Mauna Lani.
“I’m so comfortable here,” Yada said. “I haven’t been home in over two years. It feels so nice, I really enjoyed it. It was perfect.”
Yada won $800 in the six-person women’s flight. Seattle’s Jeff Coston collected $5,000 by capturing an entertaining Senior Flight.
He went into the final round tied for the lead with David Ishii, Dave Eichelberger and Scott Simpson. Coston, who also won the senior title two years ago, edged Eichelberger by one with an eight-foot par putt on the final hole.
The 60-year-old chased his winning putt in with an ecstatic fist pump.
“I had that fist pump before Tiger was born,” grinned Coston, who finished at 68—209, playing from tees some 300 yards shorter than those the Open Flight played.
In Saturday’s second round, Tyler Jones and Zac Griffiths had a hole-in-one on the North Course. Jones aced the fifth hole and Griffiths the eighth.
