honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, October 27, 2005

GOLF REPORT
Kyono, Willis join Princeville course

Advertiser Staff

Two-time Hawai'i State Stroke Play champion Rachel Kyono and James Willis have joined the Princeville Prince Golf Course as assistant professionals. In addition, assistant pro Ryan Forster has moved from the Prince Course to the Makai Course, and Steve Murphy, head pro at the Prince Course, has obtained membership in the PGA of America.

Kyono is a graduate of Kaua'i High School and Pepperdine University, where she was a member of the golf team for four years. In 2003, her team took second at the NCAA Championship.

Willis is from Flagstaff, Ariz. He is a graduate of Northern Arizona University and has held positions at Kuki'o Golf and Beach Club on the Big Island, and Flagstaff Athletic Club, Skyline Country Club and The Raven Golf Club in Arizona. Seki tied for fifth at PGA Qualifying stage

Former Hawai'i State High School champion Jim Seki is tied for fifth halfway through the PGA Qualifying School's First Stage, at San Juan Oaks Golf Club in Hollister, Calif.

Seki shot a 4-under-par 68 in yesterday's second round. His two-day total of 7-under 137 is four shots off the lead.

Seki was two back after an opening-round 69. The top-20 finishers and ties from Hollister advance to the second stage.

WAILEA'S LEE, MITCHELL TOP HAWAI'I TEACHERS LIST

Eddie Lee and Tim Mitchell, Class A PGA instructors at Wailea Golf Club, were ranked first and second in Hawai'i, in Golf Digest's newest list of top golf teachers. The list was in the August issue of the magazine.

Rankings for teachers in every state were determined based upon responses to ballots distributed to more than 1,000 teaching professionals who were asked to review their peers on a grading scale.

Kapalua Golf Academy's Ben Hongo was third in the state, followed by Mauna Kea's Kevin Hayashi, and Jerry King, also of Kapalua Golf Academy.

In 2004, Lee and Mitchell collaborated on, and launched, the Wailea Golf Academy, a personalized instruction program based at Wailea Golf Club's 12-acre outdoor training facility.

RALLY FOR A CURE RAISES $5,740 FOR CANCER

The first Rally For a Cure benefit event at the Wailea Blue Course on Oct. 15 drew a sell-out group of 36 golfers and raised $5,740 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The event included an 18-hole competition of three-member teams teamed with one of Hawai'i's top female amateurs or golf professionals. It was part of a national fundraising effort that has attracted nearly 1 million participating golfers and contributed more than $16 million to the Foundation since 1996.

NOTES

  • Calvin Poouahi has been named superintendent at Maui's Ka'anapali Golf Courses. Born and raised in Haiku, Poouahi was previously the assistant superintendent.

  • The 2005 Kent Youel Invitational, hosted by the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine, will be Tuesday and Wednesday at Kapolei Golf Course. Two rounds will be played the first day, beginning at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday's final round also starts at 7:30 a.m. UCLA won the 2004 event with a score a 5-under — 19 shots ahead of runner-up Arizona State.

  • Entries are still being accepted for the State Senior Amateur Championship, Nov. 5 and 6 at Kane'ohe Klipper. Entry forms can be downloaded at HawaiiStateGolf.org or obtained from most courses. Information: 589-2909.

  • Hitoshi Dewa is the new general manager at Pearl Country Club. He replaces Hitoshi Itsubo, who was transferred to Tokyo and assigned to the Aoyama Office of Honda Motor company, which owns Pearl.