Experience helped Davis Lee control his nerves in his second appearance in the Hawaii Tourism Authority Pro-Junior Challenge on Tuesday.

The Mid-Pacific junior hopes his play in the annual exhibition leading into the Sony Open in Hawaii carries over to a spot in the main event — perhaps as soon as a year from now.

Calmer this year compared to his debut in the Pro-Junior Challenge, Lee won a chip-off with Hawaii Baptist Academy sophomore Noah Koshi at Waialae Country Club’s refurbished 18th green to claim the top spot in the 19th annual event pairing local junior golfers with PGA Tour pros.

“The biggest difference was the first time I didn’t have the experience and I felt a lot of pressure,” Lee said.“This year, the second time around, I knew what was coming and I could deal with the pressure a lot more. … I was able to use last year’s experience to hit good shots.”

Lee, who partnered with Canadian pro Roger Sloan on Tuesday, came close to earning a tee time in the Sony Open in November when he tied for third in the qualifier for the 12-member Governors’s Cup amateur team. Maryknoll sophomore Peter Jung claimed the exemption reserved for a local amateur with an even-par 72 that day while Lee carded a 76.

“Hopefully next year,” Lee said. “I played well in (the qualifier) but couldn’t get any putts to fall, felt like nothing was really going my way.

“I know I can make it. It’s just a matter of putting it together all on one day. The goal is next year.”

While he looks to the possibilities ahead, Lee and the four other juniors were able to stay in the moment on Tuesday in their opportunity to play three holes with the pros in an alternate-shot format.

Waiakea junior Isaiah Kanno played with Patton Kizzire and impressed the defending Sony Open champion with a blast off the 10th tee that won the long-drive competition.

“It’s a lot of fun to play with these kids. Isaiah was outdriving me out there,” Kizzire said. “He’s got a ton of talent. The others do too. It’s just fun to compete and team up with these kids.

“I remember those days. It’s a growing time in your life and it’s a good opportunity to get some good competition and some mentorship. … I wish I could go back with what I know now.”

Kanno was too young to remember his first visit to Waialae and had watched the Sony Open over the years. Tuesday marked his first chance to tee it up on the course.

“I learned a lot and in only a short span of time,” Kanno said. “It’s just a wonderful time, especially playing with Patton, and I hope to do it again next year.”

The opportunity to learn from the pros while playing Waialae’s 10th, 11th and 18th holes is among the primary benefits for the juniors who qualify. As is the chance to meet a major champion, as Maui senior and Pepperdine signee Reese Guzman found when she was introduced to her partner, Davis Love III.

“Oh my gosh, I’m a huuuge fan,” Guzman said of Love, a 21-time winner on the Tour, including the 1997 PGA Championship. “I was kind of fan-girling it in the beginning meeting him, kind of embarrassing, but it was great. … It’s great just meeting him and talking to him.”

‘Iolani’s Kyung Eun Lee played with Josh Teater, and Koshi teamed with 2012 Sony Open champion Johnson Wagner in the five-team field.

After three holes, Lee and Sloan were tied with Koshi and Wagner at 1 under. Lee had contributed to a birdie on the par-5 18th by firing a 4-iron from the rough that ended up on the back fringe of the green.

The juniors then went to a chip-off and Lee popped his chip onto the green and it stopped 7 feet from the pin to win.

“It was over the hill and probably downhill after that and I knew it was going to be fast,” Lee said. “I knew what shot I needed to play and told myself just execute it and I’ve done it perfectly so many times.”