In The Wood

BY BEN WOOD

Sunday, October 7, 2001

Chi Chi honored in
return to Isles

CHI Chi Rodriquez, one of Hawaii's adopted sons competing in the Senior PGA tourney at Turtle Bay, was given a proclamation from Gov. Ben Cayetano at a luau at the resort Tuesday night for his worthy contributions to golf.

A highlight of the evening was a hula by Chi Chi's wife, the former Iwalani Lum-King of Waimanalo. Entertainment was provided by Polynesian Cultural Center performers.

In his years on the PGA tour, Chi Chi would toss a luau during the Hawaiian Open at the home of his in-laws, Mina and "Lumpy" Lum-King. The luaus were attended by many PGA pros and isle dignitaries.

Moving on to the Senior circuit, Chi Chi won the first two Senior PGA events held on Oahu -- the Senior Skins on the Kuilima course in 1988 and the Ko Olina Senior Invitational in 1992.

Primo gift for Kimo

Audrey Hyrne is an OK lady, that's for sure. As a birthday present for her fiancé Kimo Kahoano Sept. 10, she took him to play golf at Pebble Beach. Both are avid golfers. Kimo, the versatile emcee, entertainer and Coral 99.5 deejay, shot an 82 on the fabled course. Audrey shot a very worthy 83, firing two birdies. Besides tackling Pebble twice, they also played the Spyglass and Spanish Bay courses at the complex during their stay.

Library benefits

The Marriott Links to Literacy scramble at Ko Olina on Sept. 28 raised a record $60,000 for the Hawaii Library Foundation.

Pre-teen phenom Michelle Wie, 11, won the most accurate drive contest. Michelle was teamed with Stan Brown, Marriott International VP for the Pacific Islands, and Renaissance Resorts Hawaii finance chief Steve Zidek.

Short shots

Don Moores won the first Star-Bulletin/MidWeek golf tourney at the Prince last Sunday with a net 64, based on the Peoria handicap system. He was followed by Lance Yagi, 66; Arnold Kumai, 67; Russ Retynski, 68, and Neal Nakamura, 71.

Coming in with 72s were Don Kendall, Jay Higa, Neal Nakamura and Rich Pattullo. Yumi Tsubouchi topped the women with 76. Kudos to tournament chairman Randy Cadiente for all his hard work.

Those tall, healthy looking men taking on Koolau on Wednesday were Los Angeles Lakers' players and executives. Challenging the lush, tough course were Rick Fox, Jerome Crawford, Mike Penberthy, Derek Fisher, Jerry West, Mitch Kupchak, Bill Sharman, Irving Thomas and Kevin Grevy.

Former News 8 reporter Brooks Baehr, with an assist from the Koolau staff, proposed to Julie Yoshida on the scenic 15th tee lookout last month. The staff sent out a message on the Global Positioning Satellite System on the cart that read: "Will you marry me, Julie?" She said yes. Brooks had champagne hidden in a cooler in the bushes.

---

Ben Wood, who played his first round of golf at Ala Wai
50 years ago, vows to learn how to play the game well even if
it takes another 50 years. E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com.

---