In its 57th year, the Mid-Pacific Open is partnering with Aloha Section PGA to put on the state’s lone remaining 72-hole local event.

The 2015 tournament tees off Thursday at Mid-Pacific Country Club. Nick Mason will go after his third title in four years and nearly all Hawaii’s finest golfers — past, present and future — will try to stop him.

The Aloha Section will run the tournament and "co-own" it with MPCC, in an effort to "keep its legacy going and provide competitive opportunities" for Hawaii amateurs and professionals, according to ASPGA Executive Director Wes Wailehua. The senior flight will also be enhanced.

Mason, a Leilehua and University of Hawaii Hilo graduate, fired a final-round 66 last year to outlast Arizona pro Jesse Mueller.

Mason is one of many former champs in this year’s tournament. Hawaii Golf Hall of Famers David Ishii, Brandan Kop, Casey Nakama and Lance Suzuki — an eight-time champion — are all playing, and all are now seniors. TJ Kua and Dean Wilson, who won one tournament and nearly $9 million on the PGA Tour, will also be back.

Former Manoa Cup champs Matt Ma, Jonathan Ota, Nainoa Calip, David Fink, Jared Sawada and Alex Ching — now playing on the PGA Tour China Series — are entered.

Sawada is coming off a win in the first Minor League Golf Tour event played in Hawaii, on April 6 at Pearl Country Club. Sawada, now playing on the Japan Challenge Tour, shot an even-par 72 to win by two over Ryan Nagata. Five golfers were in the MLGT’s Hawaii debut, with Sawada collecting $540.

Coming in from the mainland are Punahou graduate Parker McLachlin, who also won on the PGA Tour, and former Hawaii Pearl Open champ John Ellis, from San Jose. Bradley Shigezawa is home after playing on the eGolf/Gateway West Coast Tour.

Shigezawa tied for fourth two weeks ago — with Ellis and three others — at eGolf’s Spring Tournament #3 in Lompoc, Calif. He won $3,600 and Waimea’s Max Bonk got $1,013 for 24th. Shigezawa also had a T14 a week earlier in Beaumont, Calif., and Bonk finished 32nd Wednesday in Spring Tournament #5, at Litchfield Park, Ariz. Kauai’s Cory Oride is also playing eGolf events.

First prize Sunday in Lanikai is $14,000 — $1,000 more than this week’s eGolf event. The Mid-Pacific Open is sold out with 209 golfers entered, including 154 amateurs.

Kyle Suppa will defend the low amateur honors he earned last year. Other prominent amateurs include Kyosuke Hara, Colin Laszlo, Shawn Lu, Tyler Ota, David Saka and Malia Nam, the only female in the field.