As the first-year title sponsor, Turtle Bay Resort came up with an interesting new wrinkle for the Hawai'i State Open next week. For the first time, women will be playing against the men to determine the state's champion golfer, and two LPGA members, Katie Futcher and Allison Hanna, have taken up the challenge.

There's still a women's flight, which Cyd Okino will try to win for the fourth year in a row. Other women champions over the years include Lori Castillo, Cindy Rarick and Lenore Rittenhouse. Also, Michelle Wie, who matched her age in winning by 13 strokes in 2002, played against the gals even though she competed in five men's events that year, including the Hawai'i Pearl Open, State Amateur Championship and the Mänoa Cup. But even Wie didn't go up against the guys in the Hawai'i State Open.

To create an added buzz to this year's tournament, Matt Hall, Turtle Bay's director of golf and president of the Aloha Section PGA, thought it'd be a good idea to invite women pros to play against the men. "We view it as an open event. Nowhere does it say men only. As long as you meet the handicap requirement," said Hall, who sent out some feelers. Boy, did he get a response.

Futcher (as in future) and Hanna, along with Sarah Butler, a former University of Minnesota golfer, will be playing in the men's open flight. Katie Kempter, a recent University of Denver graduate who tied for second in the LPGA Q-School last week to earn her 2010 playing card, is also entered but in the women's flight.

The idea of going up the men is what prompted Futcher and Hanna to come here, they said. That, and playing again at Turtle Bay. Both played in the SBS Open earlier this year.

"I'm very excited about it. I've never done it in a tournament before. It'll be interesting. It's one of the things that drew me to this event," said Futcher from her home in Woodlands, Texas.

"I've never played against the men. I always like a challenge, why not? I thought it would be fun," added Hanna. "We love Turtle Bay, so any time I can come back and play that golf course, I will."

What made it a real no-brainer for Hanna was the weather back home in Portland, Ore. "It's been in the 30s all week, so it's nice to get out of the cold weather in the middle of December."

Good friends since they first played Big Ten golf — Futcher at Penn State where she was a two-time NCAA All-American and Hanna at Ohio State — they both realize the challenge ahead, starting next Friday. "I'm sure they're all very good players," said Futcher.

Very good indeed. The 146-player open field includes PGA Tour professional Dean Wilson, Tadd Fujikawa, David Ishii, Jarett Hamamoto (who made the final stage of the PGA Q-School), two-time NAIA champion Sam Cyr, teen phenom Lorens Chan, Aloha Section PGA player of the year Kevin Hayashi, reigning Hawai'i Pearl Open champion Jesse Mueller and Casey Watabu, 2006 U.S. Men's Amateur Public Links champion.

Futcher, Hanna and Butler — all represented by the same Houston agent, Adelqui Boue — will also have to play from the same tees as the men: 7,147 yards the first two days at the Palmer Course and 6,621 yards at the Fazio course in Sunday's final round. Palmer played to 6,560 yards in the SBS Open in February when Futcher tied for 70th and Hanna missed the cut.

Length off the tee won't be too much of a disadvantage, according to Futcher, who averages 260 yards on her drives. "I'm not too concerned about it." What concerned her more is the absence of Hawai'i on the 2010 LPGA schedule. She played in the SBS Open for four years and the LPGA event at Ko Olina three times. "Playing both courses was a cool gig," she said. "That's why I'm coming back to play."

Futcher is upbeat about next year, having tied for 20th in the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship, finishing 72nd on the money list with $128,702. "I was pretty steady throughout the year but nothing really good happened on the weekend. I did a lot of good things, but overall the year wasn't a huge success. I have a lot of things I need to work on. I did finish well, which was really good."

Futcher's a big college football fan. Although she lives in Houston, she's not into Texas or TCU football, but her alma mater's. "Obviously, they're great programs but I'm just more partial to the old football, you know, like Joe Paterno. You can't get much older than that," she said with a laugh.

Hanna, who's in the Ohio State athletic hall of fame, is also looking to a better 2010 after earning $104,603 this year in playing only 14 events because of a limited status. But she did win a Futures Tour event. And she can't wait to tee it up in the Turtle Bay Hawai'i State Open with the idea of using it as a springboard to 2010.

"It'll also give me a chance to see my friends from the Honolulu Country Club." she said.

One of them is Tomio Taki, who owns HCC. Talk about friends in high places.

Bill Kwon can be reached at billkwonrhs@aol.com