Ishii back to defend Mid-Pacific golf title
Three-time champion David Ishii begins defense of his title tomorrow at the 49th annual Mid-Pacific Open golf tournament.
Ishii shot a closing 68 last year to come from six shots off the pace to beat Big Island resident Kevin Hayashi by three shots with a 2-under 286 in the professional flight.
As well as Hayashi has done on the local golf scene, he has yet to win the Mid-Pacific championship.
Ishii will have plenty of company in this four-day event played at the Mid-Pacific Country Club. Also set to tee it up are Sony Open sensation Tadd Fujikawa, three-time Mid-Pac winner Regan Lee and local pros Mark Sousa, Joe Phengsavath and Tim Miller.
This year's field also includes past champions Casey Nakama (1996), Brandan Kop ('95), Beau Yokomoto (2000) and 2005 winner John Lynch.
Fujikama played in this 72-hole tournament last year and finished third in the championship flight with a 305 to Brandan Kop (296) and Chan Kim (299).
The first Mid-Pacific Open was played in 1956 and crowned Guinea Kop the winner. Local legend Ted Makalena won it the next two years as the tournament was part of the Lanikai Cup for local amateurs and the Campos Trophy for the professionals. Recent Hall of Fame inductee Lance Suzuki has won the tournament a record eight times.