Good friends Kevin Hayashi and Kevin Carll matched pars, birdies and better for 20 holes yesterday before Hayashi emerged as winner of the Turtle Bay Golf Match Play Championship. Hayashi won, 1-up, with par on the second extra hole at Turtle Bay's Palmer Course.

It was the first match-play title for the Mauna Kea pro since 2003. Hilo Muni's Lance Taketa won the senior title Tuesday.

Hayashi and Carll were 1-2 in last year's Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year standings.

"It was fun playing with Kevin but that was a battle out there," Hayashi said. "I won seven holes, he won six and we halved seven. That's how much 'blood' there was. I'm all beaten up."

Hayashi birdied two of the first three holes and grabbed a 4-up advantage after six. When his putting deserted him Carll, head pro at the Turtle Bay Palmer course, quickly closed.

"I was trying to remind myself to just play hole-to-hole, but my mind did wander," Carll said. "I figured it would be a rout, but I played some solid golf and got it back. When I was 4-down and he had those 3-putts back-to-back it reinforced the fact that I had to take it hole-by-hole."

Hayashi three-putted Nos. 7 and 8 and also bogeyed 10. Carll won all those and No. 11 to tie the match. He grabbed his only lead with eagle at the 12th.

"Luckily I had that big lead," Hayashi said. "I was really having a hard time in the middle. I just kept telling myself it's still even, and even 1-down wasn't that bad.

"I tried something different with my putting position — moved the ball forward so I could get more roll. That settled everything."

Hayashi birdied the 14th and 16th to move back ahead, but his bogey on the next hole left the match square. Both golfers parred the 18th and the first playoff hole (No. 1). Hayashi also parred No. 2, while Carll missed the green with his approach shot and couldn't convert a 12-foot par putt to extend the match.

Match Play was the second major of the 2008 Aloha Section PGA season.

NOTES

Top 100 courses: With the inclusion of Kapalua Plantation (No. 19), Princeville Prince (20) and the Challenge at Manele (39), Hawai'i has the most courses per capita in Golf Magazine's biennial "Top-100 Courses You Can Play" list. The list is in the September issue, out this week.

Overall, 34 states are represented, with California having the most courses (10). The top course, "where membership is not a requirement to play," is Pacific Dunes in Bandon, Ore. It edged out Pebble Beach Golf Links in California.

Meals on Wheels benefit: Entries are still being accepted for the 13th annual Drive for Lanakila Meals on Wheels tournament, which will be Aug. 22 at Hawai'i Prince.

Meals on Wheels serves more than 1,700 hot meals a day, with more elderly in need on the waiting list. The goal this year is to raise enough money to serve all who are in need.

The tournament will have an 11:30 a.m. shotgun start. Cost is $200 per person or $570 per team. Food will be provided by Ruth's Chris, Romano's Macaroni Grill, HASR Wine Company and Xpress Chefs. A trip for two to the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, in Phoenix is part of the live auction. For information, call 531-0555.

Makalei Amateur Championship: The third annual Makalei Amateur Championship will be Nov. 1 and 2 on the Big Island. It is open to women and men and features four flights. Entry fee is $175, or $150 for Makalei eClub members. The first round tees off from 10:30 a.m., with a three-hole Putting Challenge at 4:30 p.m., sponsored by Royal Kona Resort. Play begins at 8:30 a.m. the final day.