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Wednesday, July 5, 2000
Honolulu’s Wie
sets age mark
at Publinx
The 10-year-old sixth grader
Star-Bulletin wire services
is youngest amateur ever to play
in a USGA golf championshipABERDEEN, N.C. -- Honolulu's Michelle Wie became the youngest amateur in a USGA championship when she teed off yesterday at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links championship.
Wie, a 10-year-old sixth-grader, made the turn at 1-under 35, but missed all nine greens on her second nine. She finished with a 2-over 74, four strokes off the leading pace.
Wie was in a nine-way tie for 14th. The group included Hilo's Leah Whiting and Kauai's Rachel Kyono.
Despite errant approach shots down the stretch, Wie, with her father as her caddie, remained poised playing in an event loaded with college stars.
"I just think about my game," said Wie. "I really don't think about other people."
Her father, Byung Wook Wie, is a transportation professor at the University of Hawaii. Her mother, Hyun Kyong, who works in real estate, was on the sidelines as a spectator.
The airfare for Wie and her parents cost $4,800.
"It's expensive, but my parents and I think it's worth it," Wie said.
Wie's parents are from Korea but have lived in Hawaii for 13 years. They recalled that their daughter was hitting tee shots of 100 yards at the age of 5.
"I kinda remember that," said Wie. "My driver went over the fence after the first year, so we couldn't do that any more and we started going to the driving range."
The youngest contestant in a USGA event was Beverly Klass, now a professional, who was 9 when she played in the 1966 U.S. Women's Open.
Three other Honolulu golfers are among a group of 15 tied for 23rd at 75: Zyra Suyetsugu, Kathy Cho and Summerset Lovett.
Merryn Ito, an incoming senior at Aiea High School, shot a 78 and Honolulu's Mariel Kotake was at 86. Maui's Rose Pagan carded an 87 and Maui's Kelly Nakashima shot an 88.
NCAA champion Jenna Daniels and three others were tied for the lead after carding 2-under 70s at the Legacy Golf Links.
Daniels, of Bonita, Calif., missed her first green in regulation on the 6,161-yard layout lined with tall pines, then hit 17 straight in a bogey-free round to share the first-day qualifying lead with three other players -- Catherine Cart-wright of Bonita Springs, Fla., Stephanie Smoot of Pemberville, Ohio, and Tenille Howe of Ogden, Utah.
Russamee Gulyanamitta, 24, a native of Thailand who moved to the United States about a month ago, and Shelley Anderson of Clarksville, Tenn., were at 71.
Four of 144 players failed to finish their rounds because of darkness following a two-hour lightning delay.
