After some 60 years of lying dormant in the legendary Manoa Cup golf world, Kauai golfers have bubbled to the surface since Art Fujita’s breakthrough victory in 1964.

The 102nd Manoa Cup tees off Monday at Oahu Country Club. The state’s amateur match play championship is much more than a golf tournament. Its storied history and OCC’s unique attributes—made even more vivid by the pressure and walk-only rule—have combined to create a rare aura.

Defending champion TJ Kua, who won days after his freshman season at University of Hawaii ended last year, is still coming to grips with what his win meant.

"It changes you, for sure," Kua says. "I can’t really say that physically, overnight, my game was better, but I knew I could handle pressure. I proved to myself I could do something a little more special than what I had been doing."

Kua is from Lihue. Layne Morita, the man he held off on the 36th hole in last year’s final, is from Kapaa. Jonathan Ota won the 2006 Manoa Cup at 44—twice as old as anyone else who has won it since 2001. He is general manager of Kauai landmark Tip Top Motel and Cafe.

Kauai golfers have won at least once in every decade since Fujita beat Charlie Makaiwa in a showdown of Hawaii Golf Hall of Famers 46 years ago. David Ishii, another Hall of Famer, won in 1977 just before turning pro. Guy Yamamoto sandwiched his 1994 U.S. Amateur Public Links championship with two Manoa Cup victories. Deron Doi and Damien Victorino also won in the ’90s.

Bridgestone Golf Distributorship owner Del-Marc Fujita, Art’s son, opened Kauai’s assault on the Aughts decade with a memorable second-round victory in the 94th Manoa Cup. It came on the second extra hole, over 12-year-old Michelle Wie.

"Thank goodness I did beat her," Del-Marc said. "People still ask me about it to this day. It’s hilarious."

There is nothing funny about Kauai’s success in an event only an avid golfer could love, and every avid golfer in Hawaii apparently dreams of winning the Cup. Ota and Yamamoto used to challenge each other on Wailua Municipal’s practice putting green, with the winner capturing the mythical Manoa Cup.

Wailua is dramatically different than OCC—originally located in Manoa Valley which led to the "Manoa Cup"—in almost every way. One is exceptionally public—kamaaina can play Wailua for $15 and kids $1—and the other extremely private. OCC is a narrow, lush 6,000 yards that careens up and down rainy Nuuanu Valley. Wailua is nearly 7,000 yards and windblown along the ocean, with a flat front nine and brutal bunkers.

But there are similarities.

"You hit a lot of wedges at both places," Ishii says. "When I was a kid at Wailua you had to be able to flop over the bunkers or come out of the bunkers and scramble with your wedge. At OCC you’re scrambling a lot for birdie because you’re driving right up to the green. That’s why I like OCC, because of all the wedges."

Del-Marc Fujita also attributes Kauai’s Manoa Cup magic, in part, to how difficult it is to walk the hilly back nine at Wailua. Golfers who grew up on that course have already paid the toll that OCC’s treacherous hills take on a golfer’s legs, particularly late in the week and when the pressure is on.

When he won, Ota also credited years of yoga, along with the late Toyo Shirai. The Kauai legend designed Wailua and taught all the island’s Cup champions with the exception of Kua. He learned the game from Ishii—his uncle—who was an early Shirai disciple. Shirai’s impact remains immense.

"I cannot give Mr. Shirai enough credit," Ota says. "When I won the Manoa Cup, upon reaching home Mrs. Shirai called to congratulate me, and told me how proud Mr. Shirai would have been."

Two other elements also distinguish the Kauai champions: All are extremely amiable and tenacious. They shrug at OCC’s treacherous greens and the Manoa Cup’s inherent difficulties, and never give up.

"Kauai guys know you’ve got to mentally persevere," Yamamoto says, "because Wailua can beat you up too."

These guys have learned how to get back up, particularly when Hawaii’s most coveted amateur championship is on the line.

"I guess we’re all kind of scrappers," Kua says, "and you have to be a scrapper because you’re always scrambling around trees and stuff."

The defending champion will be seeded first for Tuesday’s opening round. Another 100 golfers will compete for the other 63 match-play slots in Monday’s qualifying round. That includes Iolani junior Marissa Chow and Punahou senior Alina Ching, who is an OCC member and the sister of 2008 champion Alex Ching. The only two females in the field tee off together at 8:37 a.m.Text goes here.

Adding taste to golf clinic

Ko Olina Golf Club will host its annual Women’s Golf Clinic and Wine Tasting event Wednesday.

The clinic goes from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., with Ko Olina pros offering mini-lessons on hitting drivers, irons and woods along with putting tips. From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., wines paired with appetizers from Roy’s Ko Olina will be served in the restaurant.

Cost is $50 for the clinic and wine tasting, or $35 for wine tasting only. Space is limited to the first 35 people and registration is required. For more information, call 676-5300 or email golf@koolina.com.

State champ cards 67 at Jr. World qualifier

State high school champion Cassy Isagawa fired a 5-under-par 67 yesterday in the opening round of the Callaway Junior World Qualifier, at Waikoloa’s Kings’ Course. Isagawa, who will be a senior at Baldwin in the fall, had three birdies on each nine with a lone bogey.

The qualifier concludes today, with the top finishers in each age division advancing to the Callaway World Golf Championships, July 12 to 16 in San Diego..