Clayton Gomi rejoices over his tournament-winning 18th-hole eagle.
Photo by Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin

"I was just trying to make a 4 and let Kevin make his eagle," said Gomi, who at age 34 captured his first-ever individual title - open or otherwise.

Hayashi was a stroke back and on the green on the par-5 finishing hole in two, 20 feet from the pin, when Gomi sank his chip shot from the front of the green.

"I thought the putt was going to be important," Hayashi said. But when Gomi's chip rolled into the cup, even an eagle wouldn't have helped Hayashi. His eagle try was a foot short and he tapped in for a birdie.

Gomi shot a 69 yesterday for a 54-hole score of 204. Hayashi posted a final-round 68 with a birdie-birdie-birdie finish for a 206 total.

Hayashi, who won the Rainbow Open in 1986 as an amateur, took the first-place purse of $2,500 as the top professional.

"The money's fine, but you still want to win. You're out here to win the tournament," Hayashi said.

"It's overwhelming," Gomi said about his stunning victory at his home course. He's a 1980 graduate of Mililani High School.

And Gomi hopes it's just the start of a beautiful friendship with golf this summer.

Two weeks ago, he was one of three Oahu qualifiers for the U.S. Amateur Men's Public Links Championship July 15-20 at Wailua, Kauai.

"I've been practicing more regularly," said Gomi, who works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "All the practice is geared for the Public Links. It's a good tune-up for me."

It paid off handsomely with his first victory in a field that included most of Hawaii's best professionals and amateurs.

Professional Craig Sasada finished third at 209, while pros Jerry Mullen and Casey Nakama and amateur Brandan Kop, the defending champion, were tied at 210.

Four pros were tied at 211 - Daryl Inaba, Kalua Makalena, Brian Sasada and Lance Suzuki.

Gomi became the seventh amateur to win the Rainbow Open in its 23-year history and the third in four years. And his 204 total was the best 54-hole score since Larry Stubblefield's 202 in 1985.