PUBLINX
1 of 3 Hawaii golfers advance at Public Links
BREMERTON, Wash. » Casey Watabu of Kauai beat Raymond Sheedy in 22 holes yesterday to advance to today's second round of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.
Watabu was the only Hawaii golfer to win yesterday. Sean Maekawa of Paauilo lost 3 and 2 to Matt Harmon of Michigan, and Tadd Fujikawa of Moanalua lost 3 and 2 to Kevin Foley of New Jersey.
Defending champion Clay Ogden of Utah lost 2 and 1 to Jesse Schutte of Oregon. Ogden beat Michelle Wie last year in the quarterfinals.
"I don't know what happened. I just made some putts," said Schutte, an 18-year-old recent high school graduate. "It was a great match all day."
Martin Ureta of Chile, the 2005 runner-up, also dropped out, falling in 20 holes to Joseph Prince of California.
Stroke-play co-medalists Justin Metzger of Tennessee and Mitch Cohlmia of Oklahoma also opened with victories on the Gold Mountain Golf Club course.