After going wire to wire in outrageous Maui conditions to win the first event of 2013, Dustin Johnson disappeared from the leaderboard for a couple of months before finishing off another $3 million season.
The PGA Tour’s restructured season is already four weeks old. Last Sunday, Johnson opened his season by winning for the first time to qualify for January’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions, the former season-opening event at Kapalua Plantation.
Johnson’s victory at the World Golf Championships’ HSBC Champions in Shanghai gives him wins in seven straight seasons. He has played in four of the last five TOC’s at Kapalua and plans to be there again Jan. 3-6.
Johnson is the first player since Tiger Woods to win in seven consecutive seasons straight out of college. The only player with a longer consecutive season win streak is Phil Mickelson, at 10.
It might be the 2014 season already, but the tour is giving winners of its late-year events an invitation to play at Kapalua in January. After this week’s McGladrey Classic, the OHL Classic at Mayakoba is the last chance to qualify.
For information on the Hyundai Tournament of Champions Pro-Am, Jan. 1-2, contact Nancy Cross (nancycross@pgatour hq.com or 808-665-9160).
Cal State Fullerton wins UH’s tourney at Princeville
Cal State Fullerton got a final-round 65 from Ryan Tetrault to win the Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational on Wednesday on Kauai.
The Titans shot 12-under 276 to finish at 822 — a shot better than Louisville, which closed with a 273. Fullerton’s Mark Anguiano (70), Louisville’s Robert Geibel (67) and Mississippi State’s Chad Ramey (70) shared medalist honors at 201, and Geibel won the playoff on the first hole (No. 9).
The highest finish for a player from Hawaii was San Diego sophomore Alex Chiarella, a Seabury Hall graduate. Chiarella tied for 18th at 69—210. Freshman Skye Inakoshi had the Rainbows’ best finish, shooting 69—213 to tie for 33rd.
Inakoshi played on Hawaii’s A team, which was 17th at 289—875. The Hawaii B team was last at 292—882, led by Brian Lee (75—215), who was 41st.
The Rainbow Wahine were invited to this week’s Pac-12 Preview, which finished Tuesday at Nanea. Hawaii finished last at 933 — 10 shots behind 39th-ranked Colorado. The Wahine were led again by freshmen Izzie Leung (76—230) and Raquel Ek (80—231). Leung had Top 10s her first three collegiate starts, but was 40th at Nanea, which featured nine nationally ranked teams.
State rules on resort scene, LINKS Magazine says
Hawaii is home to four of the "Top 25 Golf Resorts of the World," according to an article in the Fall 2013 issue of LINKS Magazine, which is celebrating its 25th year.
Four Seasons Hualalai and Lanai at Manele Bay, made this year’s list, along with Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and St. Regis Princeville.
Among the other 25 resorts are Turnberry in Great Britain, the Lodge at Kauri Cliffs in New Zealand, Gleneagles in Scotland, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Canada, Wynn Las Vegas, Pinehurst, Pebble Beach and Bandon Dunes.
Notes
» Kaanapali’s annual Sale-A-Bration is this weekend. Sale hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, with a demo day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Apparel will be as much as 80 percent off, with golf shirts for $35 and under and most golf bags $99. Call 808-661-3691 for more information.
» The Hawaii Golf Representatives Association will have its annual Sample Sale on Nov. 30 from 9 a.m. to noon at Washington Intermediate Cafeteria (1633 S. King St.). Golf equipment, clothing and shoes will be on sale.
LOCAL ACES
|
Date |
Course |
Hole |
Yards |
Club |
Wayne Tanaka British Columbia |
Sept. 27 |
Kapolei Golf Course |
16 |
171 |
5-wood |
|
William Enomoto not listed |
Oct. 16 |
Leilehua Golf Course |
2 |
179 |
4-hybrid |
|
Yurie Mashimo Tokyo |
Oct. 20 |
Ko Olina Golf Club |
12 |
119 |
4-wood |
|
Robert Shklov Kailua |
Oct. 20 |
Olomana Golf Club |
8 |
113 |
PW |
|
Vincent Scharsch Honolulu |
Oct. 21 |
Ala Wai Golf Course |
5 |
120 |
7-iron |
|
Gary T. Higa Mililani |
Oct. 21 |
Navy Marine Golf Course |
8 |
99 |
9-iron |
|
Curtiss Ako Honolulu |
Oct. 22 |
Ala Wai Golf Course |
2 |
148 |
5-hybrid |
|
Toshie Fujimoto Sendishi, Japan |
Oct. 22 |
Royal Kunia Country Club |
5 |
175 |
driver |
|
Lily K. Yao Honolulu |
Oct. 22 |
Leilehua Golf Course |
12 |
104 |
6-hybrid |
|
Irving Fuke Kailua |
Oct. 24 |
Coral Creek Golf Club |
2 |
128 |
7-iron |
|
Arick Yanagihara Honolulu |
Oct. 24 |
Oahu Country Club |
4 |
202 |
7-iron |
|
Saeko Comer Honolulu |
Oct. 29 |
Ewa Beach Golf Club |
8 |
81 |
7-wood |
|
Shayna Lu Honolulu |
Nov. 2 |
Olomana Golf Club |
2 |
110 |
5-wood |
|
Golf courses can send aces to sports@staradvertiser.com or fax 529-4787. |