Kaua‘i wins Mayors’ Challenge Cup

WAILUA — Russell Shimazu, golfing in the Mayors’ Challenge Cup for the first time, put the Kaua‘i team over the top yesterday with a 3+1 finish.

Shimazu came back from an 86 Saturday against his Senior B flight counterpart, Kent Kishi of O‘ahu, to take the edge yesterday. Kishi finished with an 86 for a 1/2-point tie with Shimazu.

“It was over at No. 17, but Kent wanted to finish, so we played to the end,” Shimazu said.

Similarly, despite a record-setting performance from Kelli Oride and her brother Cory, Kaua‘i finished in an 8-8 deadlock with O‘ahu following the opening round.

Kaua‘i finished the match play format with a 10-6 lead over O‘ahu and clinched the Mayors’ Challenge Cup with an 18-14 margin.

Following her seven-under-par 66 to set a new red tee course record, Kelli came back to win Marissa Chow, 2+1 yesterday.

Similarly, her brother Cory, who shot even par to take Saturday’s round over O‘ahu golfer Jino Sohn, soared to a 5+4 finish in the final round to help the Kaua‘i effort.

Aspiring PGA Tour golfer Jon Burkhard dropped Saturday’s round to Ron Yogi in the Open Championship flight by three strokes, but came back in the final round to take a 2+1 edge over Yogi.

Craig Nakagawa, playing the Open A Flight against Kaua‘i’s Stephen Brown was one of the O‘ahu leaders, taking Saturday’s round by four strokes with a 78, and edging out Brown 2+1 in the final round.

The Mayors’ Challenge Cup tournament was established in August 2007 by Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan Baptiste and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hanneman, sponsored by the Hawai‘i Golf Foundation.

“We’ll be back,” an O‘ahu golfer shouted from the audience as Ed Okamoto, team captain for Kaua‘i, raised the cup and said this was what the Kaua‘i golfers worked hard for over two days.

“This is a special golf course,” said O‘ahu team captain Kerry Komatsubara, relinquishing the cup to Okamoto.

“It was the dream of a local guy, Toyo Shirai, and with the help of the community, it was built for you guys. It was fun playing here, but keep the cup polished. We look forward to playing here again.”

Mayors’ Challenge Cup

Round One

Stroke Play

Open Championship

Jon Burkhard Kau 80 –

Ron Yogi Oahu 77 1

Open A-Flight

Stephen Brown Kau 82 –

Craig Nakagawa Oahu 78 1

Open B-Flight

Kerry Oda Kau 84 1/2

Dexter Chun Oahu 84 1/2

Open C-Flight

Bruce Whale Kau 91 1

Kyle Paishon Oahu 100 –

Sr Championship

Pat Viernes Kau 73 1

Gary Kong Oahu 75 –

Senior A-Flight

Victor Watabu Kau 83 –

Keith Komatsubara Oahu 77 1

Senior B-Flight

Russell Shimazu Kau 86 1/2

Kent Kishi Oahu 86 1/2

Senior C-Flight

Angel Madrid Kau 92 –

Stephen Ching Oahu 91 1

SupSr Championship

Art Fujita Kau 75 1

Peter DeGuzman Oahu 84 –

SupSr A-Flight

Stan Staulz Kau 92 –

Bert Fong Oahu 86 1

SupSr B-Flight

RJ Higgins Kau 95 –

Melvin Kaneshiro Oahu 88 1

Women Championship

Bernice Hiraoka Kau 95 –

Chae Kobayashi Oahu 87 1

Women A-Flight

Cindy Oda Kau 88 1

Lynne Chow Oahu 99 –

Women B-Flight

Mildred Konishi Kau 99 1

Carol Ching Oahu 116 –

Junior Boys

Cory Oride Kau 72 1

Jino Sohn Oahu 91 –

Junior Girls

Kelli Oride Kau 66 1

Marissa Chow Oahu 80 –

Round Two

Match Play

Open Championship

Jon Burkhard Kau 2+1 1

Ron Yogi Oahu

Open A-Flight

Stephen Brown Kau

Craig Nakagawa Oahu 2+1 1

Open B-Flight

Kerry Oda Kau 1up 1

Dexter Chun Oahu

Open C-Flight

Bruce Whale Kau

Kyle Paishon Oahu 2+1 1

Sr Championship

Pat Viernes Kau

Gary Kong Oahu 1up 1

Sr A-Flight

Victor Watabu Kau

Keith Komatsubara Oahu 2+1 1

Sr B-Flight

Russell Shimazu Kau 3+1 1

Kent Kishi Oahu

Sr C-Flight

Angel Madrid Kau 3+2 1

Stephen Ching Oahu

SupSr Championship

Art Fujita Kau 4+3 1

Peter DeGuzman Oahu

SupSr A-Flight

Stan Staulz Kau 1up 1

Bert Fong Oahu

SupSr B-Flight

RJ Higgins Kau all sq 1/2

Melvin Kaneshiro Oahu all sq 1/2

Women Championship

Bernice Hiraoka Kau

Chae Kobayashi Oahu 4+2 1

Women A-Flight

Cindy Oda Kau 6+5 1

Lynne Chow Oahu

Women B-Flight

Mildred Konishi Kau all sq 1/2

Carol Ching Oahu all sq 1/2

Jr Boys

Cory Oride Kau 5+4 1

Jino Sohn Oahu

Jr Girls

Kelli Oride Kau 2+1 1

Marissa Chow Oahu