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Thursday, February 8, 2001

Ishii heads
Pearl field

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Star-Bulletin staff

With host professional David Ishii playing for the first time in three years, the 2001 Hawaii Pearl Open starting tomorrow at the Pearl Country Club will feature one of its stronger fields ever.

Joining Ishii, who has won the Pearl Open six times, will be defending champion Kevin Hayashi, and previous winners Jeff Cook, Kiyoshi Murota, Lance Suzuki and Greg Meyer.

Also in the 192-player field -- which includes 135 pros -- are Dean Wilson, the 2000 Japan PGA Tour rookie of the year; Aloha Section player of the year Brian Sasada; Sony Open qualifier Matt Hall; Japan's Hidemichi Tanaka, who led going into the final round of the World Golf Championship, and South Korea's Jong Duck Kim.

Among the leading amateurs are Brandan Kop, Guy Yamamoto, state long-drive champion Tommy Kim, reigning Manoa Cup champion Randy Shibuya, Shane Hoshino and Ryan Koshi, low amateur in last year's Pearl Open.

The cut after Saturday's second round will include the low 15 amateurs.

The 54-hole event ends Sunday with the winning pro getting $12,000.