Lance Suzuki spent the day playing a round of golf with the legendary Chi Chi Rodriguez. The Kahuku resident just wishes he could have given Rodriguez something to remember him by. Suzuki struggles with
speedy greensBy Paul Arnett
parnett@starbulletin.comAfter a solid 74 on Friday, Suzuki shot a forgettable 80 in yesterday's second round of the $1.5 million Turtle Bay Championship. He has played the Arnold Palmer course in all kinds of weather, but never set up quite like this.
"The greens are much faster and firmer than they are any other time," Suzuki said. "I'm used to playing in these conditions. The wind doesn't bother me, but I just didn't putt very well."
Suzuki received a sponsor's exemption to take part in this Senior PGA Tour event. He and fellow local golfer Larry Stubblefield have represented Oahu well. Stubblefield, who qualified Monday to play this week, followed Friday's 72 with a second-round 74. His 2-over total left him in a tie for 26th, nine strokes off the pace set by Hale Irwin.
"I'm playing well right now," Stubblefield said. "It feels good to be out here competing with these guys. The wind is tough because of the gusts. You think you've hit a great shot, then it's either short or long. But I'm having a great time."
So is Suzuki, who said Rodriguez remained calm most of the day.
"Chi Chi didn't do a lot of waving his club that sort of thing," Suzuki said. "He was just trying to get around like the rest of us. But this has been a great experience. You get to compare your game with these great professionals."
Stubblefield will tee it up today at 8 a.m. on the front side. His playing partners are Bobby Wadkins and Jim Albus. Suzuki goes off the back side at 9 a.m. His partners are Ed Dougherty and David Lundstrom.
No. 11 plays rough: The par-4, 433-yard 11th hole was the most difficult yesterday. It yielded birdies only to Hubert Green and Ted Goin. No one birdied it the first round. Overall, the par-3 13th remains the roughest. It was the fifth-most difficult yesterday and the toughest Friday. The average score on the hole is 3.361. There have been eight birdies, 33 bogeys and 11 double bogeys.
The closing hole remains the easiest. It has surrendered 57 birdies, the most of any hole. There have been only 12 bogeys and two double bogeys.
Governor makes a pitch: Gov. Ben Cayetano spent a few minutes in the CNBC-TV booth with commentator Mark Rohlfing to give Hawaii a plug.
Rohlfing, who has negotiated several sports deals under the watchful eye of Cayetano, gave the governor a chance to promote the 50th state as a tourist destination.
"It's safe here," Cayetano said. "We want people to come here and spend some time with us during the PGA and Senior PGA Tour seasons."