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Sports Watch
GOLFERS at the Navy-Marine golf course aren't bothered by all the construction that just started on the site of the former putting green. In fact, they are welcoming it. Navy-Marine course
just gets betterIt's because work began on a new $5 million clubhouse, which is expected to be completed in five or six months. Architectural drawings show that it's going to be a beaut.
Already one of the most popular courses on Oahu, definitely the best operated by the military, Navy-Marine will finally have a facility that will match its playing conditions.
STRONG OCC FIELD: The Oahu Country Club Men's Invitational this weekend has one of its strongest fields ever.
One reason is that it swapped dates with the Manoa Cup. But the foremost reason is that two other amateur tournaments won't be held this year -- the Navy-Marine Invitational and the Hickam Amateur.
"Both not having tournaments made ours stronger," said OCC golf professional Andrew Feldmann.
The 120-entry list was filled two weeks ago and more than a dozen players unsuccessfully waited on stand-by, according to Feldmann.
This year's Navy-Marine Invitational was canceled because of work on the new clubhouse, while Hickam won't be holding its annual tournament in September because of irrigation work on the golf course, which is expected to take at least three months.
TWO GONE, ONE BACK: If both the Navy-Marine and Hickam tournaments are off the golf calendar this year, the Waialae Women's Invitational is back after a one-year hiatus.
Last year's tournament was canceled because the Waialae Country Club renovated its kitchen facilities.
But the 2000 Waialae Women's Invitational returns next Monday and Tuesday with a 7:45 a.m. shotgun start each day.
This year's theme is "Year of the Golden Dragon," according to publicity chairwoman Cookie Ayabe.
Anna Umemura and Suzie Kimi -- the overall low-gross and low-net winners, respectively -- will be defending their titles, one year later than usual.
HE LIKES EICH: Gary Wild, Oahu Country Club vice president and retired HNA member, asks that the Star-Bulletin boldface the name of PGA Senior Tour pro Dave Eichelberger in our golf agate because of his local ties.
"He is married to a local girl, lives here part of the year in his off-season, and is a proud member of Oahu Country Club," Wild said.
"We at OCC are very proud of his association with our club and have named our Club Championship Trophy, 'The Dave Eichelberger Trophy,' in his honor. We were thrilled when he won last year's Senior Open Championship and he displayed the USGA Senior Open Trophy in our display case for several months.
"I think he has a great deal of local following due to his connections to Hawaii and should be one of the few boldface names."
Duly noted.
TEAM PUNAHOU: Color this year's Hawaii team to the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship Buffanblu.
Three former Punahou golfers -- Parker McLachlin, Jim Seki Jr. and Tony Okano -- will be representing Hawaii in the tournament Aug. 1-4 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.
McLachlin is on the UCLA golf team, while Seki just completed his freshman year at Stanford. Okano's on the Santa Clara golf team.
All three are playing in the OCC Invitational.
