Youth, experience in four-ball event

Jared Flores and Donny Hopoi will not be going for a three-peat at this weekend’s sixth annual Hawaii State Golf Association Four-Ball Tournament. The event at Ted Makalena does, however, have plenty of noteworthy teams.

Jared Sawada and John Oda, two of Hawaii’s hottest amateurs over the past year, are partnering up.

Moanalua senior Eimi Koga, the 2011 state high school champ, is playing again with Menehune freshman Kyosuke Hara, who won medalist honors at the Hawaii Pearl Open qualifier earlier this month.
Teams range from seniors Paul Kimura and Renfred Frias, and Phil Anamizu and Mervin Matsumoto, to Kaci Masuda and Aneka Seumanutafa, and Shawn Lu and Sian Rogers. Those last four could add up their four ages and barely reach 50.

The championship flight starts Saturday at 7 a.m., with A and B flights to follow. Play begins at the same time Sunday, but the championship flight goes out last, around noon.

NOTES

>> Honolulu’s Stephanie Kono earned $6,056 for last week’s third-place finish in the VisitMesa.com Gateway Classic, which opened the Symetra Tour season. The next stop is Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, March 22-24 in Winter Haven.

>> Maui’s Sam Cyr closed with a 70 to finish 65th at the Zaykabar Myanmar Open last weekend. The next tournament is next week in New Delhi.

>> Last weekend’s Hilo Invitational was canceled by heavy rains. All the money raised by the event goes to Big Island Junior Golf.

>> Waikoloa Beach Resort will hold a Nike Demo Day on March 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Kings’ driving range. Nike’s 2013 clubs will all be available, including the new Covert VR S collection.

LOCAL ACES