Sunday, October 28, 2001
Sunshine was is short supply on Oahu yesterday, even along the normally arid Waianae Coast. The wind kicked up and the rain came down in squalls, but none of it seemed to bother Kevin Hayashi. Hayashi breaks Makaha
By Grady Timmons
Special to the Star-BulletinThe 39-year-old pro from Hilo played steady golf over the long and demanding Makaha Resort Golf Club, carding an even-par 72 for a 54-hole total of 4-under 212 to win the Williams & Associates Hawaii State Open golf tournament for the third straight year.
Hayashi bested Will Yanagisawa, whose final-round 72 gave him a 216 total, by four shots. Yanagisawa, a pro from Long Beach, Calif., plays the Asian Tour. "It was tough out there today," said Hayashi, who picked up $7,250 for the win. "The course was stretched and the pins were tucked. I was just shooting for pars. I knew even par would be a hard score to beat."
Hayashi began the day tied for the lead with amateur Brandan Kop, who skied to an 81, but quickly separated himself from the field with birdies at the first and third holes. "Getting off to a good start really helped," said Hayashi, who chipped to within 3 feet at the par-5 first and then stiffed a 6-iron to within 4 feet at the par-4 third.He made the turn at 1-under after three-putting the par-3 ninth -- his only three-putt of the week. He made only one other bogey in his round, at the par-5 12th, where he topped his second shot. He was never seriously challenged.
"I putted well all three days," he said. "I was putting so well I could be conservative on my approach shots today and take my chances with my putter."
Hayashi, who had already locked up the Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year honors prior to the start of the tournament, relished the tough conditions on the 7,077-yard Makaha Resort course.
"I like it when it's hard," he said. "The harder it is, the better I like it. I feel I have the advantage. This course puts a premium on good ball striking and putting, as well as on course management. It tests all phases of your game."
Successfully defending his title yesterday in the Senior division was Maui's Dean Prince. The 63-year-old Prince, who captured the U.S. Men's Public Links Championship in 1978, carded a 72--212 from the white tees. He has won every Seniors title since 1996.
Sixteen-year-old Sally Soranaka, meanwhile, was the winner in the Women's division. Soranaka carded a 77-228 to beat 12-year-old Michelle Wie's 80-231. She also denied pro Christel Tomori, 85-236, of her fourth straight State Open title.
Tomori, Wie and Soranaka, who played the back nine first, began the day tied at 151. But Wie bogeyed three of the four par-5s and took a double bogey at the par-3 sixth (her 15th), while Tomori struggled the entire round, taking a triple bogey at the par-3 sixth (15th) and a double at the par-4 eighth (17th). She wound up in fourth place behind Dawn Kaneshiro, 82-235.
Mike Rich (72) and Beau Yokomoto (74) tied for third in the Open division at 217. Kevin Carll (73) was another shot back at 218. In a group at 219 were Casey Kobashigawa (72), Regan Lee (72), Henry Sieradzki (75) and Ed Tischler (76).