After a trio of runner-up finishes, Michelle Wie finally won her “Wie Love Ping Pong” tournament Saturday. The fifth annual table tennis “Pro-Am” raised about $40,000 for the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association College Scholarship Fund.

Wie, a graduate of the HSJGA and Punahou, won this year’s tournament with amateur Steve Rodgers, EVP and Chief Investment Officer from Bank of Hawaii. Earlier in the day, the world’s 14th-ranked female golfer tied for 11th at the LPGA’s Lotte Championship at Ko Olina.

Lexi Thompson and Cheyenne Woods won the last two Wie Love Ping Pong events. Other players who have taken part the first few years include Cristie Kerr, Christina Kim, Lydia Ko, Yani Tseng and Danielle Kang, along with actor Daniel Dae Kim, who won the inaugural event.

Wie and the HSJGA started the fundraiser in 2014. Wie characterizes ping pong as a “more intimate” sport that works well for raising money. The event is played at Republik and includes food from Hawaii restaurants such as MW, Murphy’s Bar and Grill, and Roy’s.

“It’s engaging, competitive and unique,” HSJGA executive director Matt Rollins said. “How often do you get to see celebrities get fired up and competitive in a ping pong tournament? The chefs/restaurants that support the evening are first-class as well, really tying everything together.”

Wie also sponsors the Michelle Wie HSJGA Tournament of Champions each December.

Local entries due soon for qualifiers

Entries for the U.S. Women’s Open Sectional qualifier and both U.S Open Local qualifiers in Hawaii are due Wednesday.

Ka’anapali Royal will host both events May 6. Hokuala’s Ocean Course on Kauai will also host a U.S. Open Local qualifier May 15.

The top finishers at the sectional advance directly to the 73rd U.S. Women’s Open, May 31-June 3 at Shoal Creek in Alabama. Qualifiers are based on the number of entrants.

Qualifiers from both locals advance to U.S. Open Sectionals on June 4. Successful sectional qualifiers compete in the 118th U.S. Open Championship, June 14-17 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

The U.S. Women’s championship is open to all professionals and amateurs who have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4. Cutoff for the U.S. Open is 1.4.

To apply, visit champs.usga.org/index.html.

Qualifiers are hosted by the Hawaii State Golf Association and HSJGA.

Other USGA Hawaii qualifiers coming up are the U.S. Senior Open (June 4 at Waialae), U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur (June 20 at Wailua) and U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Amateur (July 9 at Kapolei).