At the Manoa Cup, Ota literally outlasted the field for what he calls his biggest victory in golf.

He and Kong reached the finals to end a Young Gun Run in the tournament. The previous seven winners were in their 20s, and Ota became the oldest champion since Ken Miyaoka won the last of his six Cup titles as a 47-year-old in 1975.

The record as the oldest Manoa Cup champion still belongs to George Nahale Sr., who was 51 when he won for the second straight year in 1956. But Kong said he will give it another try next year.

Ota, of course, will be back to defend his crown. He figures after a year's rest he'll be ready to walk the hilly OCC course. Players are not allowed to use golf carts in the week-long Manoa Cup.

"I'm still tired. The body can't bounce back that fast anymore," said Ota, who feels only his victory in the 1983 Kaua'i Open when he beat a field of professionals that included Lance Suzuki and Rich Martinez, can compare with his Manoa Cup triumph.

That Oda and Kong, along with Bill Henry, Robert Herrick and Steven Matsuno — all in their 40s — made it to the quarterfinals didn't come as a surprise to Andrew Feldmann, OCC's head professional.

Feldmann knew the Manoa Cup's new format this year would benefit the older players. For the first time, the first- and second-round matches weren't held the same day following Monday's qualifying round.

"I can't speak for the others, but not playing two rounds on Tuesday and a 36-hole semifinal Friday helped me," Kong said.

Ota agreed.

"The new schedule helps a little, especially since you don't have to play 36 (holes) early in the week. But when you reach the final, you're going to be tired whether you're young or old."

Still, Ota's victory provides an incentive for the older guys next year.

"Afterwards, Andrew Feldmann joked and told me that Ken Miyaoka, Art Fujita and Jack Omuro (previous Manoa Cup champions, all in their 70s) are going to sign up next year because of me," Ota said with a laugh.

But it's no joke that it was the World of Golf according to AARP last week, also thanks to Pavin and Mast.

Pavin is a popular local favorite after posting back-to-back victories in the United Airlines Hawaiian Open in 1986-87. And he has been a fixture at the Waialae Country Club since.

Mast literally has an island tie. His part-time caddie is Ron Tsuruda, a civilian aircraft maintenance mechanic at Hickam Air Force Base.

They're such good friends that Mast called Tsuruda to share the good news about his showing in the Senior British Open.

Tsuruda caddied for Mast when he qualified on Monday to play in the Sony Open in Hawai'i last year. The Farrington High School alum was also on the bag when Mast was a Monday qualifier the following week in the Buick Invitational in San Diego and again when Mast tied for fifth in the Turtle Bay Championship the week after.

Thanks to his finish at Turnberry, Mast is now 40th on the money list with $267,156 and exempt for the rest of the Champions Tour season. And Tsuruda will use some vacation time to caddie for him in the Boeing Greater Seattle Classic and the Jen-Weld Tradition in, appropriately, Aloha, Ore., later this month.

Mast's total earnings this year are remarkable considering he has played in only six events — including all four of the senior tour's majors and the Turtle Bay Championship at the start of the year because of his non-qualifying status.

"A lot of good things are happening," said Mast by telephone from his home in Orlando, Fla.

He is already exempt for next year's four majors because of his showing this year — third in the Senior British Open, tied for 11th in the Senior PGA Championship where Tsuruda and his family watched him play, tied for 14th in the U.S. Senior Open and tied for 38th in the Ford Senior Players Championship.

"If I'm exempt for the Champions Tour next year, I'm going to try the Qualifying School," Mast said.

That's the regular PGA Tour Q-School, he's talking about.

"I want to get my card and play in the Sony Open next year," he said.

Now, that would make him a real golden oldie.