NAWILIWILI — More than a hundred golfers enjoyed a day of golf benefiting the Easter Seals of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i program Sunday at the Kaua‘i Lagoons Golf Club. Mario Ruiz was a double winner at the fundraising event. Teaming with Brandt
NAWILIWILI — More than a hundred golfers enjoyed a day of golf benefiting the Easter Seals of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i program Sunday at the Kaua‘i Lagoons Golf Club.
Mario Ruiz was a double winner at the fundraising event. Teaming with Brandt Fuchigami, Ruiz earned first place in the tournament and was the lucky recipient of the Grand Prize drawing during the luncheon held at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall.
Dwight Fujii, team captain and player for the Lihu‘e A’s in the Kaua‘i Senior Softball League, teamed with Leslie Hashimoto to garner second place followed by Dr. Michael Oride teaming with Craig Watanabe for third place honors.
Oride was also the lucky bidder of the second place prize in the Golf Ball Drop program.
Peter Yukimura’s “lucky” golf ball dropped closest to the designated hole to win a $500 Time Supermarket shopping spree, but at the luncheon, opted to put the prize up for auction where Oride out-bid all comers with more than $400 for the premium.
Wendy Akita teamed with Lorraine Jiminez to become the winner of the 28th place, the designation paying tribute to the fact the Sunday tournament was the 28th annual Easter Seals Golf Tournament.
The addition of the Golf Ball Drop arranged by Casey Riemer of Jack Harter Helicopters, the event offered non-golfers an opportunity to participate and perhaps earn a Las Vegas trip for two people for five nights with all meals included, courtesy of Vacations Hawai‘i.
Participants in the Golf Ball Drop, who did not need to be present, could purchase a golf ball which was added to the field of 2,000 golf balls which would be dropped from the helicopter prior to the start of the tournament.
Glenn Nakamoto of the Pro Am Golf Shop in Lihu‘e, a participant in the tournament as well, had his numbered ball sink solidly into the specially designated hole situated on the Kaua‘i Lagoons driving range.
Clarence Higashi was the recipient of the third place prize of a $300 jewelry certificate from A&B Jewelry.
Central Pacific Bank and Kaua‘i Builders climb aboard as the event’s major sponsors.
Easter Seals Hawai‘i, under which the Kaua‘i program operates, provides services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn work and play in their communities, states the Easter Seals Hawai‘i website.
All funds raised by Easter Seals Hawai‘i remain in Hawai‘i, according to the organization.
Visit www.hawaii.easterseals.com for more information.