Okino gains status on a Japan tour

Hawaii’s Cyd Okino will have full status on the Japan LPGA’s Step-Up Tour next year, after reaching the fourth stage of JLPGA qualifying.

Okino, who got her degree from the University of Washington last year, played in Japan this year after reaching the third stage in 2015. Her ranking coming out of qualifying then was 193rd. This year she is No. 82, which gets her into all Step-Up events — similar to the LPGA’s Symetra Tour — and three Japan LPGA events. Okino fired a 67 the final day of qualifying.

“The Step-Up tour has 21 tournaments, so I will have a pretty full schedule,” says Okino, home for the holidays. “My plan will be to play in almost all the events and make as much money as possible and hopefully next year be on the JLPGA tour.”

Hawaii’s Eimi Koga and Monique Ishikawa did not reach the final stage of qualifying.

Registration for HSJGA opens

Registration for 2017 membership in the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association opens Jan. 24. The 2017 tournament schedule is available at hsjga.org, where new and returning members can also register for membership.

HSJGA membership is open to girls and boys between the ages of 7 and 18 by July 14, 2017. They cannot be in college and must “demonstrate a basic understanding of the game.”

Annual membership is from Feb. 1 through Dec. 31 and costs $35. All tournament applicants must become a member or renew membership before tournament registration can be accepted.

For more information visit hsjga.org or email Lauren Yama, the organization’s director of communications and special events, at lauren@hsjga.org.

The schedule starts in March with the 14-under Junior Tour Series and ends with the Michelle Wie HSJGA Tournament of Champions, Dec. 2-3 at Wailea Emerald. JTS registration starts Feb. 8.

Hawaii’s Rolfing teams up with Tiger

A commitment from the city and a call from POTUS to Tiger Woods convinced Mark Rolfing to oversee the newly created Chicago Parks Golf Alliance.

Rolfing, a golf broadcaster who lives on Kapalua’s Bay Course, grew up in the Chicago area and is an avid Cubs fan.

When the city asked him to help promote Chicago golf as he has in Hawaii, and restore the historic Jackson Park and South Shore golf courses, Rolfing initially said no.

“I said, the difference is Hawaii has a good infrastructure for courses and yours are terrible, and they’re old,” recalled Rolfing, a member of the Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame. “There has been no money spent on them.”

The city committed to the $30 million project, named Rolfing the CPGA President and Founder and got President Barack Obama involved. He called Tiger Woods, who agreed to be lead designer.