Sony galleries gave Suppa joy, stress

Kyle Suppa characterizes his gallery as the best part of last week’s Sony Open in Hawaii experience, and also the most stressful part.

Suppa, 16, shot 1-under-par 69 Thursday and Friday to become the first amateur since Tadd Fujikawa in 2007 to make the cut in the PGA Tour event.

The Punahou junior was remarkably composed at Waialae Country Club — his home course — until the final few shots each day. Suppa missed birdie putts inside four feet on the ninth hole — rated the tournament’s easiest — Thursday and Friday, then bogeyed it on what would be his final hole Saturday (he missed the 54-hole cut).

After he parred his final hole (No. 18) Friday with a un-Suppa-like sloppy chip and putt, he admitted to nerves.

"Maybe the last two shots, especially the chip," said Suppa, who has orally committed to USC. "The biggest difference here is just the gallery. Everyone is watching you."

It was also the best part.

"The Sony gave me a chance to experience what it’s like to play on a PGA Tour-conditioned course," he said. "I also got to see what it takes to be successful out there. The biggest thing though was to feel what it’s like to be under pressure in that big of a tournament and now I know what it will be like the next time I am in a similar situation. Having a big gallery was also a great experience and it showed me how much fun it is to have all my friends and family out there cheering me on."

Dunes at Maui Lani pro Garrett Okamura qualified for Sony as the Aloha Section PGA Stroke Play champion. He missed the cut after shooting 73-72.

"I had a great time and learned so much from watching those guys play and practice," Okamura said. "It’s hard to say in words the things that I learned … but one thing that I did realize that the pros do better than other golfers is play one shot at a time. I know it seems easy, but it’s easier said than done and the pros do it very well."

Last aloha party for Publinx

A celebration of Hawaii’s legacy through 89 years of the U.S. Amateur Public Links — a national championship that ended last year — will be Feb. 27 at Mililani Golf Club. A friendly tournament will be followed by a banquet at Manoa Grand Ballroom.

Hilo Muni pro Lance Taketa is characterizing the event as "one last aloha party." It is open to all champions, qualifiers, committee people and anyone who supported Publinx. There will be no formal prizes, but there will be a final island challenge pitting "Big Island/Maui versus Oahu/Kauai." For more information, contact Taketa at 987-2917.

Wie plays Wie on ‘Hawaii Five-O’

According to a recent issue of Golfweek magazine, Hawaii’s Michelle Wie recently spent a half day on the set of "Hawaii Five-O," playing herself for an episode to run Feb. 20. Apparently "Five-O" regular Daniel Dae Kim, who won Wie’s raucous ping-pong fundraiser in April, hooked her up with the part.

The magazine also had Wie shooting a Nike commercial with Charles Barkley, Tiger Woods, Bo Jackson and Rory McIlroy and expects her to debut a new florescent Nike Volt ball and driver this year.

Wie and the LPGA open their 2015 season Wednesday in the inaugural Coates Golf Championship, in Florida.

Women’s Spring Fling coming up

The Hawaii State Womens Golf Association will have its annual Spring Fling March 2, at Kaneohe Klipper. Participants must be members of an HSWGA club to participate. Entries are available at HSWGA.net.