LIHU‘E — Jared Sunada was a dual winner at the 13th nnual Never Forget Sandy G golf tournament, a fundraiser for the YWCA of Kaua‘i, held recently.
Contesting in a full field of more than 70 golfers at the Hokuala Ocean Course, Sunada finished the four-person modified scramble format with a closest-to-the-pin prize on the picturesque, downhill par three eighth hole. Sunada was also part of the Fore, Right! team that finished as overall winners. Course PGA professional Kellie Hines said this was the first golf tournament to take place following closures imposed by COVID-19.
Joining Sunada on the winning team were Alan Balocan, Gavin Sarmiento and Nino Abrigo.
The overall wahine winning team, Pitch &Putts, included Marjorie Bennett, Anita Sappenfield, Paula O’very Saylor and Kyoko Ishigami, who had to forego the traditional post-tournament luncheon, settling instead for special to-go bento lunches to celebrate.
Because of the 13th year for the tournament that remembers the life of Sandra “Sandy G” Mendonca Galas, the Team KUKS, with Todd Michaelsen, Joe Vittum, Dave Hutchinson and Justin Franklin, were deemed 13th-place winners by tournament officials, who sent final tournament standings to the local media because of the no-gathering rule following tournament play.
Tournament specialty winners included Randy Byrd cranking the men’s longest drive on the second hold, Carol Pratt getting the women’s long drive award on the 13th hole, and Koa Rogers getting closest to the line on the seventh hole.
Galas, the daughter of Lawrence and Toshie Mendonca, was found dead in her car parked inside the garage of her ‘Ele‘ele home on Jan. 25, 2006. The Mendonca family partnered with the YWCA of Kaua‘i for the annual Never Forget Sandy G golf tournament, with monies raised being used to help abused women and children.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
