Michelle Wie is taking time away from her Stanford studies to play in the Avnet LPGA Classic, starting today in Mobile, Ala.

Tadd Fujikawa will make his fifth NGA Hooters Tour start — and try to make his second cut — at the Whitewater Creek Country Club Open in Fayetteville, Ga.

Meanwhile, the latest crop of Hawaii juniors continue to make their mark on the mainland.

Twelve-year-old Mariel Galdiano, runner-up at two of the three Hawaii women’s majors last summer, won her International Junior Golf Tour debut last week in Arizona. The Maryknoll seventh-grader was victorious in the girls 19-under division, which featured 13 golfers from eight states. She shot 71 both days to win by 10 shots. Galdiano’s score was the lowest among all 46 participants.

Honolulu’s Jino Sohn, 14, also played up at the JGT and took second in the boys 15-19 division. Sohn shot rounds of 74-72 and was two behind winner Tyler Smith.

In Bryan, Texas, 13-year-old Allisen Corpuz tied for fifth at the American Junior Golf Association’s Laredo Energy Junior at Traditions. The Punahou seventh-grader shot 82 in the first round, but came back with a 70 in the second and closed with 76. She finished three behind eighth-grader Taylor Coleman from Texas.

‘Iolani junior Lorens Chan warmed up for the state high school championship by finishing 19th in the boys division in Texas. Chan also opened with 82, then shot 73-77 to finish 14 shots out.

There were 132 players in the girls and boys flights, from 24 states, Mexico, France, Colombia, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Venezuela and the Philippines.

This week’s LPGA event is the first since Wie finished sixth at the Kraft Nabisco, nearly a month ago. The Punahou graduate is ninth in the Rolex World Rankings and has top-seven finishes in three of her four starts.

Hilo’s Kimberly Kim is also playing in Alabama, looking to make her first cut since becoming a member last fall.

Appreciation month

Mauna Kea Resort on the Big Island is celebrating Kamaaina Appreciation Month in May. Hawaii residents can golf for a reduced rate — $125 at Mauna Kea or $35 at Hapuna — all month.

Residents must have a Hawaii drivers license or Hawaii state ID card. For Mauna Kea tee times, call 808-882-5400. For Hapuna, call 808-880-3000.

Notes

» The recent sale of Makaha Resort and Golf Club’s 18-hole course will lead to renovations and a temporary closure beginning May 14. No reopening date has been announced.

» Scott Head, vice president of resort operations at Waikoloa Beach Resort, will be on the Emily T. Gail Show Sunday at 6 p.m. on 850-AM in Hilo and 790-AM in Kona.