Pearl Country Club golf director David Ishii and amateur Brandan Kop claimed two exempt berths in next month's inaugural Sony Open in Hawaii with victories in separate qualifying rounds yesterday at the Waialae Country Club. Ishii, Kop grab
spots in Sony
golf tournamentIshii, who capped his 1998 season on the Japan PGA Tour with a third-place finish in the Okinawan Open last weekend, flew back to Hawaii and shot a 34-35--69 on the par-70 Waialae course to top a field of 51 members of the Aloha Section PGA.
Former Waialae assistant pro Clark Miyazaki, now unattached, was second at 1-over 71.
Ron Castillo Jr. of Hapuna Golf Course earned the first alternate spot with a birdie on the first extra hole after tying with six others at 73. Joe Root of the Mauna Kea Resort parred the first playoff hole and will be the second alternate.
Kop's 37-34--71 led the amateur field, which was composed of the 12 Governor's Cup amateur teammates. Mark Chun finished two strokes behind Kop and will be the first alternate.
The Sony Open in Hawaii, the second PGA Tour event of 1999, will be played Jan. 14-17 at Waialae.
KUKONO BILLIARDS CHAMP: Danny Kukono captured first place in the $10,000 Aloha Open Handicapped 9-Ball tournament Sunday at Hawaiian Brian's Billiards, pocketing the top prize of $3,500.
Derek Nishiyama took home $1,800 for his second-place finish and Kim Yokoyama received $1,000 for third place.
BLUE WATER BASH: The Surfrider Foundation's ninth annual Blue Water Bash will be held Saturday from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Pikake Pavilion in Waimea Falls Park.
There will be live music by Kuulolo, Sticky Fingers and Lost Child, door prizes, an auction of surfboards and a Hawaiian Sleds surfboard giveaway.
To donate a surfboard, call Peter Cole at 638-7341 or see Randy Rarick.
There will be a $5 cover charge and patrons must be 21 years old with ID.
All proceeds go to Surfrider Foundation (Hawaii Chapter) and Save Sunset Beach.