Friday, September 17, 1999

Hawaii State Open
to be played on Oahu

By Bill Kwon
Star-Bulletin

For the first time since 1992, when it was held at the Ala Wai Golf Course, the Hawaii State Open will be played on Oahu.

"We want to have more people attend what's the best last tournament of the year," said Dean Nowack, spokesman for Callaway Golf, which is sponsoring the State Open for the seventh straight year.

The 54-hole tournament will be played Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 at the Hawaii Prince Course. It previously had been held at the Prince Resort's courses at Hapuna and Mauna Kea Beach on the Big Island , and Makena South on Maui.

The 100-player men's field will include the Aloha Section PGA's top 15 members based on point standings, leading assistant pros and the top eight amateurs on the Governor's Cup team through this weekend's Hickam Amateur.

In addition, local qualifying will be held Oct. 8 on Kauai (Poipu Bay Resort), Maui (Makena South), Oahu (Hawaii Prince) and the Big Island (Hapuna).

There will also be competition in the senior and women's flight.

Defending champion Greg Meyer, who won both the Aloha Section PGA stroke-play and match-play championships this year, is expected to enter the $42,000 event which will pay $6,000 to the winner.

The public is invited to compete in a hole-in-one qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $5 for three attempts to qualify for the special hole-in-one contest the following noon.

The Tihati Pro-Am is scheduled for Saturday, with the first round beginning Sunday. The final round after a 36-hole cut for the low 60 and ties in the open flight is set for Nov. 2.