Honolulu’s Jun Ho (Kenneth) Won and Kyohei (Kyle) Nomura, and Maui’s Garrett Okamura and Sam Cyr moved a step closer to the U.S. Open after finishing 1-2 at local qualifiers the past week.
Okamura shot an even-par 71 Saturday at Ka‘anapali’s Royal Course to beat Cyr — who hit into the water on the final hole — by two.
Okamura, head pro at the Dunes at Maui Lani, was the 2014 Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year. Cyr, a two-time NAIA national champion and winner of the 2011 Hawaii State Open, is now playing on the Asian Tour.
Alexander Chang and Honolulu’s Alex Ching, now playing PGA Tour China, earned first and second alternate spots after a playoff. They were among five golfers tied for third at 74.
Won, a Moanalua sophomore who just won the Francis Brown Four-Ball with teammate Shawn Lu, was medalist at Monday’s Oahu qualifier. He fired a 2-under-par 70 at Waialae Country Club to beat out 33 other pros and amateurs. Nomura shot 71 to earn the second spot.
There was a four-way tie for third at 73. JD Brewer, of Waikoloa Village, earned the first alternate spot on the first hole of the playoff. Honolulu’s Justin Williamson took the second on the third extra hole, beating out Kyle Suppa and Nick Mason.
Top local qualifiers advance to one of the 12 sectionals, and those top qualifiers join exempt golfers in the 115th U.S. Open, June 18-21 at Chambers Bay, Wash. The 10 U.S. Sectionals will be June 8, with Japan and England holding theirs May 25.
3 locals in NCAA tournament
Northwestern sophomore Kacie Komoto and Washington teammates Cyd Okino and Eimi Koga will represent Hawaii at the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships, May 22-27 at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla.
Northwestern finished second at the Raleigh Regional to advance. Komoto, the 2012 Hawaii State High School champ, tied for 18th individually.
The Huskies tied for fifth to get one of the final qualifying spots at the San Antonio Regional, with Koga finishing 13th and Okino getting a share of 34th.
Former Maui resident Kyung Kim helped her USC squad to the championship of the St. George (Utah) Regional. The two-time All-American tied for 26th individually.
Men’s regionals start Wednesday. The top five teams from each of the six regionals, and top individuals, advance to the Championships May 29-June 3, also at The Concession.
Rules session scheduled for June 10
The Hawaii State Women’s Golf Foundation and Hawaii State Women’s Golf Association are sponsoring a Rules Study Session June 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Sunset Lanai at Camp Smith. The fee is $10.
The session is open to members of all HSWGA clubs. Instruction will be in the classroom as well as outdoors. Lunch is included.
Applications are available at HSWGA.net.
Waialae Summer Classic tees off July 13
This year’s 59th Waialae Summer Classic women’s invitational will be July 13-14. Entry forms are available and can be mailed in no earlier than June 4.
Eligible players must be 18 or older and have an established USGA handicap index of 26.7 (30 handicap at Waialae) or less as of June 1.
Entry fee is $210. There are low gross and low net champions in five flights. Field is limited to 128 players.
For more information, call 224-3830.