Mark Takahama earned medalist honors for the 2009 Amatour Hawaii Qualifying Tournament last weekend, finishing at even-par 142 with rounds of 70-72 at Makaha Resort. The course played to a par of 71, because the seventh green was washed out by heavy rains.

Takahama and the 35 other top finishers qualified for the Amatour season, which starts April 25 and 26 at Turtle Bay. More than 100 players entered.

MID-PACIFIC/JENNIE K.

ENTRY FORMS FOR BOTH TOURNAMENTS OUT

The 51st Mid-Pacific Open will be April 16 to 19 in Lanikai. The tournament offers a $52,000 purse for professionals. Entry deadline is next Thursday (April 2). Forms are available at http://www.mpcchi.org or by calling the club.

The tournament dates to 1956, when Mid Pac combined the amateurs' Lanikai Cup and professionals' Campos Trophy. Guinea Kop was the inaugural champion. Many Hawai'i Golf Hall of Famers have followed, including Ted Makalena, Jimmy Ukauka, Allan Yamamoto, eight-time champ Lance Suzuki, Larry Stubblefield and David Ishii.

Ishii, a three-time winner, set the tournament record in 1986 with a score of 17-under-par 271. Ishii won again 20 years later.

Tadd Fujikawa is defending champion. He made the Open his first win as a pro last year, beating Ishii by seven shots. John Lynch and 2007 champion Darren Summers tied for third.

Entries are also out for this year's Jennie K. Wilson Invitational, May 15 to 17, at Mid-Pacific. The first women's major of the Hawai'i golf season returns to allowing golfers of any age to play Championship Flight, if their handicap index is 5.0 or less. The tournament has also raised its handicap limit to 22.8, or a 25 handicap at MPCC, and limited its field to 120.

Entries are available at mpcchi.org or by contacting Kathy Ordway (262-2428 or ordwayk001@hawaii.rr.com).

MONTE ITO MEMORIAL

$1,500 SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS

Hawai'i high school seniors and college students from Hawai'i are eligible for the Monte Ito Memorial Scholarship, which recognizes "outstanding achievements or potential in journalism and golf."

The scholarship program is in its 11th year and honors the late Honolulu Advertiser sportswriter. The $1,500 scholarship is sponsored by The Advertiser and run through the David S. Ishii Foundation.

Last year's winners were Maui High graduate Kelcie Kawano, now a freshman at the University of Hawai'i, and Kalani graduate Marc Arakaki, a freshman at Oregon.

Entries are available at http://www.davidsishiifoundation.org and http://www.hsjga.org, or by calling 525-8043.

TOP COURSES

GOLFWEEK HONORS 15 FROM HAWAI'I

Hawai'i has 15 courses in Golfweek's "2009 Best Courses you Can Play," released last week. The list is made up only of public-access courses.

Magazine raters examine courses for "overall strength of routing, feature shaping, natural setting, greens, variety and memorability of holes, conditioning and maintenance, landscape management" and other criteria.

The top public-access course here, according to the list, is Kapalua (Plantation). It also ranks 66th nationally among modern courses. Princeville Prince is next, and 85th nationally. Other Hawai'i courses, in order, are:

Mauna Kea, Challenge at Manele, Po'ipu Bay, Kaua'i Lagoon (Maile-Ki'ele), Ko'olau, Mauna Lani South, Experience at Ko'ele, Mauna Lani North, Makena North, Wailea Gold, Puakea, Waikoloa Kings and Dunes at Maui Lani.

NOTES

The Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association will conduct a Junior Tour Series event at Wailua Municipal this weekend. Golfers will play the course between 4,508 yards (7-8 and 9-10) to 6,585 yards (boys 13-14). Last year's winners were Kyle Suppa, Anna Apana, Matthew Camacho, Mariel Galdiano, Kalena Preus and Cassy Isagawa.

Entries are out for the Kona Open, presented by the Hawai'i Island Junior Golf Association. The 36-hole stroke-play tournament will be May 23-24 at Kona Country Club's Ocean Course. Amateur Max Bonk won with a 140 total last year, beating pro John Lynch by one shot. Entries are available at the club's pro shop, or online at http://www.808golf.com or http://www.aloha.pga.com. Call 324-2722 for more information. Deadline is May 9.

Dean Wilson is honorary chair for the First Hawaiian Bank REHAB Golf Challenge, May 27 at Hawai'i Prince. Entries are out and cost for a three-person team is $750. For more information, call the REHAB Foundation at 566-3451. Entry deadline is May 1.