LIHU‘E — Tadd Fujikawa extended his lead at the Turtle Bay Resort Hawai‘i State Open with a 7-under 65, Saturday. The 19-year-old will take a three-shot advantage over Maui’s Sam Cyr into today’s final round, reads a press release from
LIHU‘E — Tadd Fujikawa extended his lead at the Turtle Bay Resort Hawai‘i State Open with a 7-under 65, Saturday. The 19-year-old will take a three-shot advantage over Maui’s Sam Cyr into today’s final round, reads a press release from Turtle Bay.
There are 188 golfers from around the state and from the Mainland competing on Turtle Bay Resort’s Arnold Palmer and George Fazio golf courses in the three-day event.
In the Women’s Division, first round co-leader Kelli Oride (36-39) of Lihu‘e is now in third place with a two-day total of 145.
Fujikawa (32-33), bested his opening-round 68 with eight birdies, including three in a row on the Palmer’s 12th, 13th, and 14th holes and with only a bogey on 16, took full advantage of Saturday’s benign conditions.
Sam Cyr (32-35) is currently in second place with a 67 and a two-day total of 136. Tied in third place are professional golfers Andy Connell (33-34) and Turtle Bay Resort’s Tony Finau (33-34) totaling 137 after two rounds.
PGA Tour Player and 2007 Hawai‘i State Open Champion Dean Wilson of Kaneohe shot 73 and is at even par for the tournament.
David Ishii (34-32) of Pearl Country Club shot a 6-under par 66 in Saturday’s second round to lead the Senior Division with a two-day total 10-under-par 134. Two shots back is 1987 Hawai‘i State Open Champion Casey Nakama (33-36) with a two-day total 136. In third place with a two-day total of 138 is Lance Taketa (32-37) of Hilo Municipal Golf Course.
Ji Soo Park (35-37) leads the Women’s Division at 2-under par after an even-par round and 142 total.
In second place is professional Britney Choy (34-38) from Wahiawa, who posted her second even-par round and two-day total of 144.
Rayray Gorman, of Honolulu shot 68 to lead the Men’s A-Flight division and Hansol Koo, of Honolulu leads the Women’s A-Flight with an 82.
The final round tees off today at 7:45 a.m.
Admission is free and spectators are welcome to attend.
Last year, the Aloha Section PGA and Turtle Bay Resort entered into a three-year agreement to promote local, Hawaiian golf tournaments at the same time that economical concerns took away the SBS Open and the Turtle Bay Championship.
Its concept was simple: promote local and international talent at two of the world’s top golf courses — the Arnold Palmer and the George Fazio at Turtle Bay Resort.
Hawai‘i’s last tournament of the year, the Hawai‘i State Open is also one of the state’s oldest events. First played in the 1920s, the tournament was the ultimate championship to determine the best golfer in the Islands.
After major changes to the tournament that established it as an annual PGA Tour stop but excluded local players, the tournament did not return to its original form until the Aloha Section PGA took the reins in 1993. With the goal of enhancing the tournament’s rich traditions, the ASPGA strove to host the event at the best courses throughout the islands.
