High numbers are seemingly everywhere at the Mid-Pacific Open, which tees off next Thursday in Lanikai.
The 58th tournament will celebrate Mid-Pacific Country Club’s 90th year. Last April, Bradley Shigezawa won his first Mid-Pacific Open despite closing with a 78.
To put that in perspective, the wind was blowing some 30 mph for the final round and Shigezawa still beat 2008 Canadian Tour Order of Merit winner John Ellis by three. Shigezawa opened with a 65 in his wire-to-wire win, finishing as the only player under par. Ellis closed with a 68, which was the windy and wild final day’s best score by three shots.
This year’s Mid-Pac Open has a purse of approximately $70,000 and a field that is one of the best of the year.
Shigezawa is back to defend. Other pros playing include Ellis, Dean Wilson, Alex Ching, Dave Eichelberger, David Fink, Kevin Hayashi, Justin Keiley, TJ Kua, Sean Maekawa, Nick Mason, Parker McLachlin, Casey Nakama, Jared Sawada and Kimberly Kim.
Amateurs include Kyle Suppa, Kyosuke Hara, Shawn Lu, Brandan Kop, Matt Ma, Tyler Ota, David Saka and Jun Ho Won.
Kua set the single-round scoring record three years ago, when a second-round 62 catapulted him to the title. David Ishii, Kua’s uncle, set the tournament record when he won the first of three Mid-Pac titles in 1986, finishing at 271.
Golfers in the state’s only 72-hole local event go out from 6:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday and 6:45 a.m. on the weekend, after the 36-hole cut.
Nanea Golf Club takes Candies title
Kris Kitt and Juan Rodriguez — Team Nanea Golf Club — captured the 18th Big Island Candies Team Championship Tuesday. The Aloha Section PGA event was played at the Club at Hokuli’a.
Kitt and Rodriguez shot 65 both days and won by a shot. Kevin Hayashi and Henry Park fired 64 on the final day to share second with first-round leaders Reece Alnas and Paul Hagen Jr., and Lance Taketa and Garrett Okamura.
Format was two-person scramble the first day and best ball the final day. There were 19 teams.
Jennie K. taking applications
Applications are available for the 66th annual Jennie K. Wilson Women’s Invitational, May 13-15 at Mid-Pacific Country Club.
Information and applications are at mpcchi.org and applications can also be picked up at the Mid-Pac Golf Shop. For more information, call 262-2428 or email kathyordway@me.com.
