3.24.2008--
The Amatour
2008 season got started this past Saturday with the
Amatour qualifier at the
Makaha Resort golf course under
sunny skies and variable wind conditions, as 112 players vied
for 36 exempt spots for the 2008 season. The course played
long, and the pin placements, along with the grain and
undulating greens made for tricky putting. Joe Thomas emerged
from the pack on the first day with a 71, the only sub par
round of the day. Vance Watabu,
Michael Trevino, and Tommy Yamashita shot 73 to trail by 2
shots, and 6 players were at 75, 4 shots back. Nine over par
81 was the score that included the top 36 and ties after the
first day.
The
second day was another sunny day, and play started at
11:30. Conditions were ideal for players to make their move into the
top 36. Earl Medeiros improved 12 strokes, shooting and even par 72 to
move into the top 36 along with Richard Ingalls,
who improved his score by 10 strokes with a 73. Justin
Sakaue bettered his first day score by 8
strokes with a 76 to avoid an 11 man playoff for 3 spots. The playoff
score came in at 161.
The
playoff for the last 3 exempt spots started on the 10th hole
with Sam Crocker(84-77), Greg Gibbs(79-82), Paul Glen(81-80), John
Goto(79-82), Jovan Joaquin(83-78), Kyle
Kiyonaga(80-81), Jake McGraw(80-81), Kurt Mizusawa(78-83),
Michael Park(81-80), Darryl Wassum((81-80),
and David Kochi(81-80) tied for 34th.
After the first playoff hole, 6 players remained. They proceeded to the
9th hole, another par 3, where John Goto
drained a 40 footer for birdie to secure his
spot. The other players, Michael Park, Darryl
Wassum, and Jake McGraw parred the
hole to stay alive in the playoff. Because of darkness, a chip off for
the 2 remaining spots became necessary. Jake McGraw and Darryl
Wassum won the chip off to fill the 36
exempt spots.
The
championship of the Amatour Qualifier was
the most dramatic playoff of the Amatour’s 7
year history. 5 players finished regulation play at 3 over 147. Vance
Watabu(73-74),
Mark Chun(75-72), Alika
Bell(75-72), Michael Trevino(73-74), and Joseph Thomas(71-76) proceeded
to the 18th hole for a playoff to determine the winner. All
five players hit safely off the tee. Michael Trevino was away, and hit
his shot over the green. Mark Chun hit his approach on the green, a
little long and right, about 30 feet from the pin. Joseph Thomas was on
the right fringe, just about a couple of feet farther than Mark. Vance
hit his shot over the stick, about 25 feet past the pin, and
Alika
hit the green on the left, about 20 feet short of the stick.
Michael chipped up and marked, then Joseph and Mark both hit good putts
that assured them pars. Vance hit a very firm putt that sped to the
hole, hit the back lip, jumped up, and dove into the hole for a birdie.
Alika then stepped up to his putt, and
stroked another firm putt dead center in the cup to tie Vance. The two
of them then proceeded to the par 3 10th
hole. Vance hit his shot a little fat, and came up short. Alike
hit his shot on the green about 25 feet right and above the pin. Vance
chipped to about 5 feet, then Alika, putting
to win the hole hit an aggressive putt that rolled about 7 feet past the
hole. His second putt slid past the hole for a bogey, and Vance holed
his par putt for the win.
In
the Amatour Cup match, where the top 24
exempt players from the last year split up into 2 teams and play a Ryder
Cup type of event, The Green team came from 2 points behind after the
first day(7 to 5) to win the event by 4
points(12-8)on the second day.
The
Amatour would like to thank our sponsor for
this event, Quality Air Conditioning and
Service. We also want to thank Sue Asao, Corrine Toyama, Lana Hirai,
and Charlie Yamane for all their work and efforts at the tournament.
The
first 2008 Amatour event will be at the 2
Turtle Bay golf courses on April 26th and 27th.
All exempt players are asked to send in their checks by April 16th
so that the open spots can be filled by the alternates. The entry fee
is $135.00 which includes 2days’ green fees, and $2,200 in gift
certificates for the top 25 places.
