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Sports Watch
BACK to back. It has a nice ring to it, and the 2001 LPGA Tour schedule that was released recently brings good news to Hawaii's golf fans. GOLF WATCH
Kona-Kapolei tandem
good move by LPGAUnlike this year when the two LPGA tournaments in the 50th State were separated by a week, the 2001 tour calendar calls for the LPGA Takefuji Classic and the Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open to be played on successive weeks.
The Takefuji Classic will be held Feb. 8-10 at the Kona Country Club on the Big Island and the Hawaiian Ladies Open the following week at the Kapolei Golf Course.
This year's schedule had the Australian Ladies Masters in between, diminishing the quality of the field for the two isle events. There's no tournament in Australia next year.
Having put Kona and Kapolei on the schedule back to back, the LPGA Tour has given Hawaii a solid niche on the tour calendar, hopefully for many years to come.
When Dorothy Delasin won 2000 LPGA Rookie of the Year honors, it ended a two-year streak of South Koreans winning the title.
Mi Hyun Kim was the top rookie in 1999 and Se Ri Park in 1998.
Interestingly, Delasin, who's of Filipino ancestry, beat out Grace Park, who was trying to become the third Korean in a row to win the award.
Delasin, who at 19 became the youngest player in 25 years to win an LPGA event, is the first American-born player to win the award since Pat Hurst did it in 1995.
Park, who played junior golf in Hawaii, earned more money than Delasin ($389,445 to $316,862) but missed most of August and September because of a rib injury.
The rookie award is not determined on money earnings, but on a point-system based on tournament finishes. Delasin had 603 points to 555 for Park.
Winning isn't everything, it seems, although Davis Love III might not think so.
For the second year in a row, Love has surpassed the $2-million mark in earnings without winning a tournament.
He has four more chances to crash the winner's circle in order to qualify for the Mercedes Championships next January.
With his first victory of the year last week after a long layoff, David Duval became the 28th player to qualify for the winners-only event at Kapalua's Plantation Course.
Heading the field, of course, will be nine-time winner Tiger Woods, the defending champion after a stirring playoff victory over Ernie Els.
Seven local organizations received more than $22,000 following the 16th Danny Kaleikini Foundation Golf Tournament Tuesday at the Honolulu Country Club.
Through the years, Kaleikini's foundation has contributed more than $400,000 to more than 150 local organizations.
"We are fortunate to have MGM Mirage International as our major sponsor," said Kaleikini. More than 180 golfers, including Al Faccinto Jr., the Las Vegas resort's president, participated in the tournament.
Congratulations to Rick Castillo, Wailea's senior head golf professional, for being named the PGA of America Merchandiser of the Year in the resort category.
"It's a fantastic honor to receive a national award from the PGA," said Castillo, who shared credit for the honor with two members of his sales staff - Carol Garlock and Les Goo.
