Wednesday, December 1, 1999

By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Jay Shannon was the only player to
win all three of his matches.

Pros reign in
Burns Challenge Cup

By Bill Kwon
Star-Bulletin

Brandan Kop leading 3-up with five holes to play is like money in the bank.

If the amateurs were counting their money in yesterday's final round of the Gov. John A. Burns Challenge Cup, they paid a penalty for early withdrawal.

Henry Sieradzki rallied to beat Kop, 1-up, in the final match of the day to give the pros a 13-11 victory in the 27th meeting between the state's top amateur and professional golfers.

The pros, who led 6-5 after the first day, were nursing that lead as yesterday's individual matches were even at the time, 5 to 5.

"I felt bad. I usually protect my lead pretty good," Kop said.

Sieradzki began his comeback with a birdie at the 14th hole. He cut it to one at 15 when Kop missed a two-footer for par and then pulled even at the par-5 16th when Kop three-putted from 70 feet. The pin was tucked way back to the right on the upper shelf.

Kop said he thought about using a wedge to chip it up, since he faced a putt that had to go through the fringe to get to the hole. But he also thought about Koolau's greenskeeper and decided to putt instead. The ball couldn't get there and rolled back 20 feet.

Sieradzki had the advantage with his length off the tee at 18 -- the Koolau Golf Club's signature, and most difficult, hole.

Kop pushed his drive into the hazard, had to lay up short of the ravine and got on in five. He then conceded Sieradzki's par putt.

"I feel comfortable on this course," said Sieradzki, the Kaneohe Klipper teaching pro.

Jay Shannon, teaching pro at Pacific Academy, was the only one to win all his matches in the two-day competition. He beat Regan Lee, 3 and 2, yesterday.

Also winning for the pros -- who now lead in the series, 18-8 with one tie -- were Lance Suzuki, Ron Castillo Jr., Marc Orlowski and Ed Tischler.

Parker McLachlin, a sophomore on the UCLA golf team, posted four birdies to defeat Jerry Mullen, 5 and 3, for one of the amateurs' five victories.

Reigning Manoa Cup champion Shane Hoshino beat Casey Nakama, 4 and 3. John Lundgren turned back Beau Yokomoto by the same score. Larry Stubblefield downed Kirk Nelson, 2 and 1, and Jonathan Ota edged Tommy Hines, 1-up.

Mark Chun rallied from four down with four holes to go to halve Koele pro Brendan Moynahan, giving their teams a half-point each.

"I'm not a match-play player," said Olomana's Casey Nakama. "Now I know why he won the Manoa Cup."

"I'm beginning to like match play a lot more now," said Hoshino, a UH-Hilo junior who shared first place in the Mauna Kea Resort College Invitational Sunday.