Mid-Pacific Open keeps drawing golfers

One look at the purse might be all it takes to understand why next year’s Mid-Pacific Open will be celebrating its 60th anniversary. That would be following the money, but missing a major point.

This year’s Open tees off this morning with 209 men and former Pepperdine All-American Marissa Chow. They are playing for a $72,000 purse.

First prize Sunday is $14,000, about six times what golfers are playing for on a lot of mini-tour events. Those fields aren’t nearly as large, but their entry fees are similar.

And they aren’t played looking out over the ocean at Lanikai.

They also aren’t at Mid-Pacific Country Club, which has gone through its share of ups and downs, but still has an atmosphere unlike any other.

MPCC’s roots are in Hawaii and so is its soul. Its unique ambience is matched only by a course that offers a bit of everything.

That’s why this tournament has grown so successful, along with Mid-Pac’s Jennie K. Invitational, the only women’s major that remains. It turns 67 next month.

“The Mid-Pacific Open shows what the club is, the spirit of it,” says Michael Kawaharada, tournament chair the past 16 years. “We’re trying to make a real local tournament here.”

Real, as in pros and amateurs play 72 holes from the same tees, with a cut for all flights. It is one of many features that convinced Kawaharada early on to dedicate half his year to the tournament.

“It was the only tournament I knew of at the time that made you feel you were playing in an actual PGA tournament,” Kawaharada recalls. “Amateurs never get to feel that or experience that. You begin to understand what pros go through to play in these tournaments.”

Purse grows

When he started playing, first prize was more like $2,000. When he became MPCC president in 1995, one of his priorities was to change that. He appointed Don Harada as tournament chair and the purse began to balloon.

When Kawaharada, a partner in Englekirk Structural Engineers, became tournament chair in 2002, he found ways to make the balloon bigger.

The amount grew so large the Aloha Section PGA joined in a few years ago to make it an official PGA of America event and help with management. The only other Hawaii tournament with the same designation, “which exemplifies the highest standards of competition for players,” is the Mauna Lani State Open.

“Local pros give back to the community by teaching,” Kawaharada says. “I know it’s a rough business for them so it’s something I wanted to see if I could grow.”

He believed the Wednesday Pro-Am was key. Yesterday’s featured 35 teams, with more than half having played at least 10 years. Entry fees and nine cash sponsors raised $130,000 to fund the tournament.

But again, the Pro-Am isn’t all about the money.

“One of the reasons why I was attracted to not just the tournament itself but also the Pro-Am was because I knew business people out there, and if we showed the sponsors a good time and their business associates had a good time they would come back,” Kawaharada said. “I think this formula worked because when I ask Pro-Am sponsors why they come back a lot tell me it’s because the people they bring really enjoy themselves. They had a good time, thought it was a great venue.”

No one has doubted that since Seth Raynor designed Mid-Pacific in 1926. It requires every club in the bag, hints at a links layout and provides unique touches from superintendent Jason Amoy. You will never get bored with it, or its vast degree-of-difficulty range.

Course records

David Ishii set the tournament record in 1986 with a 17-under 271. Twenty years later he won again, with a score 15 shots higher.

His nephew, TJ Kua, set the 18-hole scoring record with a 62 four years ago. Two years later, Bradley Shigezawa closed with 78 to win by three shots over former Canadian Tour money leader John Ellis.

Casey Nakama calls this tournament “Hawaii’s Masters” because of the exceptional setting and atmosphere.

“This tournament is important to Mid-Pac because it shows what a great course it is,” Kawaharada says. “It also shows the club’s hospitality. That’s one thing about Mid-Pacific Country Club and why I continue to be a member. It’s a very friendly club. People treat everyone the same way. If you are a millionaire or a captain of industry it doesn’t matter. It’s not like other clubs.

“It’s the club to join because you don’t have to feel like you have to be someone else. You can be yourself, just play golf, have fun and make friends.”

And, Sunday, you can make a lot of money.