LIHU‘E — Pono Tokioka, 2022 13th World Deaf Golf Championships tournament director and a Kaua‘i native, finished the opening round tied for fourth place with in individual men’s play with a 3-over par 75 at Wailua Golf Course on Tuesday.
The international golf championships opened Sunday, featuring 112 golfers from 13 countries participating in a 72-hole tourney.
Golfers compete in a wide range of division play, including men’s and women’s individual, men’s and women’s team, men’s and women’s senior and senior team, men’s super senior and super senior team, as well as junior boys and girls. Tournament play continues through Friday with tee times starting at 7:30 a.m.
McGowin Miller of Team USA fired a two-under 70 to lead the men’s individual division, challenged a stroke back by Russell Bowie of Team Canada, who ended with a 1-under 71. These were the two under-par scores fired during the opening round of 72 holes.
Team USA Men’s, whom Tokioka competes with, leads the team competition midway through the opening round with an 11-over par gross, challenged by Team Canada, which holds a 27-over par score with team members having to negotiate two more holes at the tournament where Mayor Derek Kawakami acknowledged the sense of peace when everyone can put aside their differences and focus on enjoying the sport of golf.
Team USA men’s senior team finished 12-over par, challenged by Team Australia finishing with a 38-over following the first day of competition.
Mike Houston of Team USA leads the men’s individual seniors after firing a 3-over 75, a stroke better than Keith Worek’s 76 of Team USA.
For the women, Vanessa Girke of Germany holds the lead in the women’s individual category after firing a 3-over 75, a stroke better than Erica Pressley of Team USA, who finished with a 4-over 77.
Beckie Perkins of Team USA leads the field of eight women’s senior individuals after firing a 90 during the opening round.
Team Germany leads the women’s team competition with an 11-over par score, seven strokes better than Team USA that finished Round 1 with a score of 18-over.
The World Deaf Golf Championships were established in 1995 and held every two years in countries that include England, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, Sweden, Japan, Scotland, Denmark and Canada. The 2022 event is the first time the championships have been played since 2018.
According to England chair of the Deaf Federation Rodney Oaten, the 2020 tournament was scheduled to play in England. But the novel coronavirus took over the world and prevented play anywhere in England. At that point, Tokioka suggested, “Why not Hawai‘i? We can play in Hawai‘i.”
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
