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Wednesday, April 12, 2000

Hayashi has
unfinished business

By Bill Kwon
Star-Bulletin

Three-time champion Greg Meyer won't be defending his Mid-Pacific Open title, but the player to watch is last year's runner-up, Kevin Hayashi.

Hayashi has won the past two major open championships locally -- the Hawaii Pearl Open in February and the Callaway Hawaii State Open last November.

That has taken some of the sting out of Hayashi's loss in last year's Mid-Pac Open when Meyer overcame an eight-stroke deficit with a final-round 67 for a 72-hole total of 283 and a one-shot victory.

The 37th annual tournament begins tomorrow and ends Sunday at the Mid-Pacific Country Club in Lanikai. A total of 66 pros and 162 amateurs are entered.

Meyer, who set a course record of 8-under 64 in 1989 and also won the Mid-Pac Open in 1990 and 1997, is playing in Japan.

Those joining Hayashi in the professional field this year include previous champions Deron Doi, Keith Kollmeyer, Casey Nakama and Lance Suzuki, who has won the Mid-Pac Open eight times.

Also entered are Stan Souza, Henry Sieradzki, Beau Yokomoto, Damien Jamila and Regan Lee, who recently turned professional.

They'll be competing for the $6,000 first-place purse.

Among the leading amateurs entered are Brandan Kop, who won in 1995, Guy Yamamoto, Paul Kimura and Van Wright, winner of the Hawaii State Amateur last month.

Also entered is Randy Creighton, last year's low amateur.

Besides the open and championship flights, there will be A- and B-flight competition.

After 36 holes, the field will be cut to approximately 50 percent and ties in each flight for the final two rounds.