'AIEA — For the golf uninitiated, the name sounds a little like a contest for finding the best person to take care of an itch. For the golfers who faithfully sell out the tournament each year, the Aloha Section PGA's Bridgestone Sports Pro-Scratch Championship absolutely scratches an itch.

Creator and sponsor Del-Marc Fujita, a scratch golfer who is the Bridgestone representative here, felt Hawai'i's pros and amateurs needed a tournament where they could play together. It would be competitive, but not nearly as serious as most events with $9,000 purses.

He found success immediately on a small scale when he floated the idea as a junior fundraiser within the old Kaua'i Open.

"It promoted a lot of camaraderie," Fujita said. "People were excited to play with somebody different. I wanted an event somewhat serious but mostly fun. There are a lot of pros and amateurs that are good friends that never get to partner."

The idea took on a life of its own. Fujita wanted it as a warmup for the State Open, at a time when golfers had few competitive opportunities. He wanted it at Pearl Country Club, where many of the state's best players have ties. He wanted to see teams that bridged generations, such as Lance Suzuki and his sons, and Jay Hinazumi with mentor Allan Yamamoto. This year, brothers Norman-Ganin and Kellen-Floyd Asao played together, as did cousins Regan Lee and Brandan Kop, who won in their fourth try together.

Fujita, Kaua'i boy and proud USC graduate despite this football season, created the event in 2001. By the third year he had to start a waiting list.

Last year, Kellan Anderson and Troy Higashiyama set a tournament record, opening with a 14-under-par 58 in the first day's scramble format and finishing with a 9-under 63 in the best-ball second round, for a total of 23-under 121. Yesterday, Lee and Kop — grandsons of the late Hawai'i golf legend Guinea Kop — won with a score of 122.

It was only 18-under this year, with Pearl playing to a rain-shortened par-70 (the par-5 first hole was reduced to a par-3 when the aerated fairway was washed out). It was still a shot better than Jerry Mullen and Garret Omuro, who put six straight '3's on their card to finish the round, playing the final five holes in 5-under.

Kop and Lee opened with a 59 in Monday's scramble format to take a one-shot lead into the final round. More than half the 40 teams were within four shots.

No one could catch them. Lee, a three-time Mid-Pacific Open champion, eagled the fifth hole from three feet. He also hit approaches to within 10 feet 10 times, according to Kop, and birdied No. 16 from 30 feet and No. 17 from inches for the ultimate margin of victory. Kop, a golf distributor and four-time Manoa Cup champion, also had two birdies on the back.

Joe Phengsavath and Mark Chun (63-125) were third. Lee won $1,500 for first. Amateurs were awarded $3,000 in merchandise certificates and prizes.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.