Wilson does well in PGA qualifier

Castle High graduate Dean Wilson guaranteed himself a place on one of the two major U.S. golf tours after finishing sixth in the PGA Tour Second Stage Qualifier at Murrieta, Calif., last weekend. Wilson shot rounds of 67-70-70-73 at Bear Creek for a total of 8-under-par 280.

Wilson, who turns 43 next month, won the 2006 International and has made nearly $9 million since qualifying for the tour in 2003. He won six tournaments on the Japan PGA tour before that. Wilson has been injured this year and played just four events, missing each cut.

The top finishers in the Final Qualifying Stage, which starts Wednesday at PGA West, will be exempt on the PGA Tour next year. The rest of the players get conditional status, at least, on the Web.com Tour.

Others who advanced to the Final Stage include former Sony Open and Hyundai Tournament of Champions winners Paul Stankowski and Daniel Chopra. Wilson was the only player with Hawaii ties to move on at the six Second-Stage sites.

Parker McLachlin, another tour winner from Hawaii, tied for 39th at 2-under 286 in Humble, Texas, where the top 19 advanced. Maui’s Sam Cyr was 26th at Murrieta, closing with 65—285 to finish two shots out.

At Plantation, Fla., Tony Finau (5-under 279) and Eric Dugas (284) were 44th and 67th. Former state high school champion Chan Kim tied for 56th in Panama City Beach, Fla., at 3-over 291.

Former Hawaii pro John Riegger, who now lives in Henderson, Nev., was fourth at the Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament in Coral Springs, Fla., earning one of five cards for next year’s tour. He closed with a 66 for a total of 6-under 282.

Riegger won’t be able to make his debut until June, when he turns 50. That allows Esteban Toledo, a seventh-place finisher who earned conditional status, to be fully exempt until June.

Castillo names team for Challenge Cup

Professional captain Ron Castillo Jr. named his team for the Gov. John A. Burns Challenge Cup. The pros will take on 12 amateurs in the annual Ryder Cup-style competition, Dec. 3-4 at Mid-Pacific Country Club.

The professional team is Kevin Hayashi, Wade Nishimoto, Andrew Feldmann, Garrett Okamura, Shawn McCauley, Lance Taketa, Shane Abe, Regan Lee, Neil Cabico, TJ Kua, Joey Castillo and Ron Castillo Jr.

Sponsors include Legendary Headwear, Dave & Busters, Full Turn Direct, Kop Distributors, Golf Concepts and Titleist.

Ching progressing on Latin America tour

Alex Ching, the 2008 Hawaii State High School champion his senior year at Punahou, finished 14th at last weekend’s Puerto Rico Classic, at Dorado Beach Resort. The tournament is a stop on the new PGA Latin America Tour.

Ching opened with consecutive 72s, then shot 71 Saturday and Sunday to finish at 2-under-par 286.

Sebastian Vazquez, a 22-year-old Mexican making his second pro start, won with a four-day total of 274. Vazquez won the World Amateur Championship six weeks earlier.

Ching won $2,313 in the $125,000 event, and an exemption into the Arturo Calle Colombian Coffee Classic next week in Cali, Columbia. There are two more events in December in the tour’s inaugural season. The top five at the end of the year earn playing status on the 2013 Web.com Tour.

Beljan joins TOC field at Kapalua course

Charlie Beljan, a 28-year-old rookie who won the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, is the final player to qualify for the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. The tournament, Jan. 4-7 at Kapalua’s Plantation Course, opens the 2013 PGA Tour season.

Beljan, who suffered a panic attack in the second round, was outside the Top 125 on the money list before his win.

"It still isn’t real," Beljan said. "Three weeks ago before The McGladrey Classic, I was 150 (on the money list) and hoping to play well so I didn’t have to fly straight to Houston for Second Stage. And then I did well at McGladrey. I’m like, beautiful, now I can go right to Final Stage. Now I don’t have to go to Q‑school for a few years, and I get to go to Hawaii to start the year."

Beljan is one of 37 winners who qualified for the TOC, and one of four rookies with Jonas Blixt, Ted Potter Jr. and John Huh. Players have until Dec. 28 to commit, but others who are eligible include Keegan Bradley, Luke Donald, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson.

Steve Stricker is Hyundai’s defending champ. Also in the field is Johnson Wagner, who won this year’s Sony Open in Hawaii and will defend his title the following week at Waialae Country Club.

Tickets are on sale at pgatour.com/Hyundai or 808-665-9160.

NOTES

» The Hawaii Golf Representatives Association sample sale is Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon at Washington Intermediate cafeteria (1633 S. King St.). Golf equipment, shoes and shirts are on sale.

» Kamaaina can play Waikoloa’s Beach and Kings’ courses for $35 through Sunday. Golfers must present a valid Hawaii drivers license when checking in. Call (808) 886-7888 for tee times.

» All tournament-ready junior golfers are eligible to play in the Oahu Junior Golf Association’s Barber’s Point Jr. Open, Dec. 26-27. Golfers must be between the ages of 7-18 and not attending college. Those who are not OJGA members must have a recommendation from a golf pro or coach. Golfers tee off from 11:15 a.m. each day and entry is limited to the first 100. To register, visit ojga.org. For more information, email oahujuniorgolf@gmail.com.

» The third annual Warrior Golf Tournament will be Dec. 7 at Pearl Country Club. The three-person scramble benefits University of Hawaii men’s golf. Cost is $600 per team. For more information, contact Norman-Ganin Asao (384-4297) or Kellen Floyd Asao (392-3806).

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