Tyler Ota led the Barbers Point Invitational wire to wire last year and this year. Saturday, he finally had the hardware to show for it.

After falling to PJ Samiere in a playoff last year, Ota held off cart partner Donny Hopoi to win the 2016 title by two shots.

Ota birdied two of the last six holes for his margin of victory. He sank birdie putts inside 5 feet at Nos. 13 and 15 and drained a 10-footer for par in between. Last year’s Manoa Cup champion fired a final-round 73 for a three-day total of 3-under 213.

“I’ve been so close the last two years,” said Ota, who was third in 2014. “I had a share of the lead all three days last year and lost in the playoff. This one feels good. It was one of my goals as soon as I lost in the playoff — I thought I need to win this one next year.

“I couldn’t do it at Hickam or Manoa Cup (this year), so this one feels good.”

Hopoi, transferring from Dixie State to Boise State next semester, closed with a 2-under-par 70 for a 215 total. They were the only golfers to break par over three unpredictably gusty days at Barbers Point. Ota’s opening-round 67 was the only score in the 60s.

Kamehameha alums Hopoi, Justin Taparra (71) and Scotty Yamashita (71) were the only golfers under par Saturday. Taparra and Yamashita tied for third at 217.

Matt Ma, the 2012 Manoa Cup champ, was fifth for the second time in three years. It is a tournament that draws many of the same players each year, to say nothing of the same contenders.

“It’s one of those courses where you play well if it fits your eye,” Ota said. “If you look at the three guys in the last group (Ota, Hopoi and Ma), we hit the ball kind of far, we’re not afraid to pull out our driver. You just have to put yourself in good places here.”

Hopoi was fifth last year, before a sophomore season that saw him earn first-team All-PacWest honors and finish 13th at the NCAA Division II regionals.

While Ota was keeping close tabs on Ma — two shots back to start the day — in the final threesome, Hopoi closed his deficit to two at the turn. After 10 holes, Ota and Ma were tied for first. After 12, Hopoi and Ota were tied.

And then they weren’t.

“Tyler can play,” Hopoi said. “That low ball flight that he has gives him a little edge over everybody else. He can flight the ball well, so when it’s windy, Tyler can definitely play.”

Ota said he picked up the ability to control the flight of his golf ball from Hawaii Golf Hall of Famer Brandan Kop, who won his second senior title in as many senior starts Saturday.

Kop, who was third in the Championship Flight last year at Barbers Point, one-putted the last two holes to close with a 79 for a 227 total. That was one better than Mike Kawate (74) and Peter Baik (76).

Ben Williams (76—234) won the A Flight by three shots. William Enomoto took the B Flight at 82—242, one better than Balbino Barrientos (86). Andrew Hopoi, Donny’s dad, tied for fourth.

Ota’s last win came in last year’s Oahu Country Club Invitational. His title defense is coming up next month. His goal for now is simply to become a better amateur golfer.

“Try to catch Matt and Brandan, build my resume, nothing too drastic,” says Ota, who works with Ma and is an E-Z GO cart sales rep. “Matt is still one of the top amateurs out here — his resume speaks for itself. And Brandan is a living legend, in the Hall of Fame. He taught me that ball flight and how to hit a lot of different shots. And not be afraid to hit those shots.”