Moanalua’s Oda enjoys ride

John Oda had walked up the 18th fairway at Waialae Country Club before. But Friday’s stroll had a bit more meaning.

The Moanalua High School sophomore finished two days playing with the pros in the Sony Open in Hawaii by carding a birdie on the closing hole and signing for a second consecutive round of 73.

“Overall, it was just a blast. The last two days were great,” Oda said. “I had a lot of fun, learned a lot from the pros and overall just a great experience.”

Oda, 15, qualified as the winner of the Governor’s Cup, which reserves a place in the tournament for a local amateur.

Tadd Fujikawa was the lone player among the five entrants with Hawaii ties to make the cut on Friday.

Leilehua and UH-Hilo graduate Nick Mason and Punahou graduate Parker McLachlin both began the day at 1 over par. But neither could make a move to threaten the cut line.

McLachlin got into the tournament on a sponsor’s exemption and closed with a 4-over-par 74, for a two-round total of 5 over.

Mason, who won the Monday qualifier, got off to a promising start with a birdie on No. 10, his first hole of the afternoon, but double bogeyed No. 11.

Another double bogey on No. 2 left him with too much ground to make up, and he finished with a 73 to close his run at 4-over 144.

Eric Dugas of Waikoloa, the 2011 Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year, shot a 75 for a two-day total of 148.

Wilson misses cut by 2 shots

Mark Wilson had a better round, but not any better luck. The defending Sony Open in Hawaii champion shot a 68, but still missed the cut by two shots after his Friday round at Waialae Country Club left him at 1-over 141 for the tournament.

“It was just one of those weeks where it didn’t seem like things were going in my favor,” Wilson said.

Wilson had only five bogeys when he won the event last year. He matched that total in the first round and added two more Friday.

“It was a fun week, and just sad I won’t be playing the weekend,” he said.

Howell can’t hit a fairway

Charles Howell III has always done well here, despite never standing in the winner’s circle. He has five top 10s in 10 starts, including a tie for second here in 2007 and a tie for third in 2005. And this, despite having trouble landing his ball in the fairway.

“It’s a squirrelly golf course,” said Howell, who shot his second straight 67 to tie for seventh. “It’s hard to keep the ball in the fairway out here. You can land them, but they’re not going to stay in them very often. It takes a lot of thinking.”

As for why he has done so well here since he generally favors courses with wide fairways?

“I really don’t know,” Howell said. “But for whatever reason I do seem to like it. It might be in my best interest to find out why.”