Golfers in Championship Flight of the 59th annual Jennie K. Wilson Invitational, which begins tomorrow at Mid-Pacific Country Club, range in age from 11 to 50-something and make up one of the strongest fields ever in Hawai'i's first women's major of the year.

University of Hawai'i graduate Xyra Suyetsugu will defend her title. She beat 2006 and '07 champion Kristina Merkle by a shot last year. They were the only two to finish at par or better and Suyetsugu's 1-under 215 total was four off Amanda Wilson's tournament record, set in 2005.

Suyetsugu also won the 2007 Stroke Play Championship at Mid-Pac. Merkle, a Moanalua senior headed to Tulsa in the fall, just won her second state high school championship.

Those two are practically considered middle-aged this week. College players who will play include Hawai'i's Corie Hou, Portland's Lisa Okazaki and James Madison's Nicole Sakamoto, a Kalani graduate who was third last year.

Punahou senior Anna Jang, another former state high school champion, is playing at her home course. Cyd Okino, Jang's teammate on the state championship team, is also in the field. So is Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Marissa Chow, an 'Iolani freshman who finished fifth at states. Okino was eighth, and played in last year's U.S. Women's Open.

Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association members competing include 11-year-old Allisen Corpuz, Kacie Komoto, 12, and Eimi Koga, 13.

SERIES BENEFITS UH

The third annual Castle Resorts & Hotels/Aloha Section PGA Foundation UH Pro-Am Series will be made up of two events this year, at Kapolei June 5 and Waikele Oct. 9.

The series benefits the University of Hawai'i men's and women's golf programs and has raised more than $52,000 toward a $170,000 endowment fund pledge.

The fund will provide scholarships for a Hawai'i resident in financial need as well as provide funding for both teams.

Both tournaments are 12:30 p.m. shotgun starts. Format is five-person team (one Aloha Section pro and four amateurs) with one net, one gross best ball per hole. All amateurs must have a USGA GHIN handicap.

For more information, visit http://www.aloha.pga.com or contact the Aloha Section PGA Office (593-2230).

KONO BOOSTS BRUINS

UCLA freshman Stephanie Kono, a Punahou graduate, finished second at last week's NCAA Women's Golf Championship Central Regional, in Columbus, Ohio. Kono shot rounds of 69-70-74, with her 3-under-par 213 total a shot back of teammate Maria Jose Uribe.

The second-ranked Bruins won the regional by 19 shots and are among the 24 teams that advanced to next week's championship, beginning Tuesday at the Caves Valley Golf Club, in Owing Mills, Md. New Mexico junior Britney Choy (239), a former state high school champion for Leilehua, was 66th and will advance to nationals with her team, which finished sixth.

Stanford senior Mari Chun (242), a Kamehameha graduate, tied for 78th.

At the West Regional in Tempe, Ariz., Santa Clara sophomore Miki Ueoka tied for ninth with rounds of 72-73-70. Ueoka qualified for the regional as an individual, and each regional advanced the top eight teams and two individuals. Ueoka missed qualifying for nationals when Oregon's Cathryn Bristow beat her on the second playoff hole with birdie.

"Miki accomplished something great this year by qualifying for the NCAA Regional," said Santa Clara coach Polly Schulze. "She beat 96 players in this field, which is a testament to her talent. We are all so proud of what she has accomplished this year."

Ueoka, a two-time All-West Coast Conference honoree, finished second at the conference championship to lift her team to a program-best third.

Waiakea graduate Amanda Wilson (223), a senior at Arizona, tied for 43rd at the regional and will advance with her team. Christine Kim (230), also from Hilo, tied for 74th.

TURTLE BAY OFFERS DEALS

Turtle Bay Golf has a new kama'aina membership program called Turtle Bay Golf Plus that offers rates lower than the current kama'aina fees, monthly tournaments, GHIN handicap, discounts, and a free round of golf.

Annual membership is $75 and includes a free round of golf on either the Arnold Palmer or George Fazio Course, $25 gift certificate at Turtle Bay Golf, GHIN handicap and more.

Turtle Bay also has a new Junior Golf Membership for players ages 10 to 18. It allows juniors unlimited access to walk the Fazio course seven days a week, unlimited use of Turtle Bay's two practice facilities, GHIN Handicap, and access to play in Turtle Bay Junior Golf Tournaments, and more. The cost is $250 for an annual membership.

The resort will kick off its Junior Golf Summer Session June 6. It is open to all juniors between 6 and 17. Classes will be held every Saturday through July 11, beginning at 3:30 p.m. The cost is $100 for new students and $60 for returning juniors.

The program includes shirt, cap, six days of instruction and use of Turtle Bay's practice facility.

For more information and to register visit http://www.TurtleBayGolf.com or call the golf shop at 293-8574.

KAHILI OPEN SET FOR JUNE

The Kahili Maui Open, a tournament with roots back to 1952, will be played June 6 and 7 at Kahili. After a five-year break, the event was brought back by Kahili last year. Darren Summers was the 2008 champion.

The tournament expects to offer a purse of $18,000 — $15,000 in cash prizes for pros and $3,000 in merchandise certificates for amateurs. There will be a Pro-Am June 5.

The tournament has added an "A" flight for amateur golfers with a USGA handicap index of not more than 15.4. Entry forms are available at most golf shops,or online at http://www.kahiligolf.com. Sponsors and prize donations are still being sought. Call Kahili head pro Bradley Bowen (244-2505) for information.