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Saturday, June 10, 2000
Shibuya, Asao
fight for title
The Manoa Cup's 36-hole final
By Bill Kwon
pits UH student vs. UH
golf team member
Star-BulletinRandy Shibuya, a University of Hawaii senior majoring in economics, never tried out for the Rainbow golf team, figuring he wasn't good enough.
Shibuya might have second thoughts, especially if he beats Norman-Ganin Asao in today's 36-hole championship final of the 92nd Manoa Cup.
A victory today would give Shibuya a 3-0 sweep over members of the UH golf team in this week's match-play competition at the Oahu Country Club.
Yesterday, Shibuya eliminated Kendall Fukumoto, 2 and 1, in the semifinals. In Tuesday's second round, Shibuya also beat another Rainbow, Louis Mexia.
It's a bit of a motivation, Shibuya admitted. "It makes me feel a little good, but I'm just happy I got this far."
And, yes, he's well aware that Asao is also on the UH golf team.Asao, who defeated Kauai's Shannon Sibayan, 3 and 2, in the other semifinal, hopes to end Shibuya's 'Bow bashing.
It's the farthest both Asao and Shibuya have gone in the Manoa Cup and they've got more trekking ahead.
Like 36 more holes today.
For the first time in the tournament's history, the 36-hole semifinals and final are being played on successive days instead of the traditional Saturday off.
"It would have been nice to have the rest," said Asao, "but I'm just happy I got into the finals."
Shibuya shares Asao's feelings.
"I feel fortunate to get this far. All I know is that it's tough playing 36. It can be physically and mentally draining."
Despite a 6-up lead over Fukumoto after the morning round, Shibuya had no time to think of even coasting home.
Fukumoto steadily chipped away at Shibuya's lead.
It shrank from six to five to four to three to two and then one when Fukumoto birdied the par-16th, stiffing an 8-iron to five feet.
"Kendall played well in the second (18). I expected him to make that putt (at 16, or the 34th hole of the day)," Shibuya said.
With a slim lead and just two holes to go, Shibuya told himself to just play his own game and make pars.
"If he makes birdies at 17 and 18, hat's off to him," said Shibuya, a 1992 Roosevelt High grad.
He was safely on in two at the par-4 17th, eventually two-putting for par.
Fukumoto's pitch went over the green and when he couldn't go up and down to save par, their match was over.
"Seventeen had been a good pivotal hole for me all week. I thought I hit a good shot. Adrenalin got to me, I guess," Fukumoto said.
"Randy played a really good 18. He made some good putts," Fukumoto said about his opponent's morning round.
Shibuya's biggest putt came at the par-3 ninth, their 27th hole of the day. He sank a 20-footer to save par and a halve after a bad chip shot.
"That was a big putt," Fukumoto said. Instead of being two down then, he remained three back.
Meanwhile, Asao and Sibayan were waging their own torrid duel in the twosome behind.
Asao lost the first two holes of the day as Sibayan led, 1-up, after the morning 18.
A birdie at the par-5 second enabled Asao to pull even and he went 1-up by winning the next hole.
Sibayan chipped in for a birdie at the par-3 fourth to square the match again.
Asao went 2-up before losing the 27th hole, the par-3 ninth.
Three-putt bogeys at the 29th and 30th holes by Sibayan gave Asao a 3-up lead.
