Some of the top names in Hawaii golf will gather on Maui for the 2002 State Open this week. Hayashi and Rarick headline
field for State Open
Star-Bulletin staff
Defending champion Kevin Hayashi tops the men's field in the 54-hole tournament, which begins Friday morning at 7. He will be joined in the championship division by, among others, former champions David Ishii (1980) and Casey Nakama (1984). Some of the top amateurs include Ryan Koshi, Jonathan Ota and Randy Shibuya.
Cindy Rarick is the marquee name in the women's field.
The LPGA touring pro is joined by Michelle Wie, 2000 winner Christel Tomori and Dawn Kaneshiro.
The Seniors field is dotted with players from the Aloha Section PGAtop 15 list. Ron Kiaaina, the director of golf for the Kiahuna, Mililani and Pukalani golf courses, is No. 1 on the list. Joining him will be Larry Stubblefield, Dennis Rose, Mike Iyoki and Rodney Acia. Other top senior amateurs entered include Wendell Kop and Charles Park.
The men will be competing for cash and gift certificates totalling $41,000 ($30,000 pros, $5,000 amateurs, $6,000 seniors) while the women's purse is $6,000.
The men's field will be cut to the low 54 and ties after 36 holes while the field for the women and senior men will be cut to the low 12 and ties after the second round.
The final round is set to tee off at 8 a.m. Sunday.
Hayashi, who will be going for his fourth straight State Open title, shot a final-round 72 at the Makaha Resort Golf Club last year to finish with a 4-under 212 and the first-place check of $7,250.
Finishing four strokes back was Will Yanagisawa, a pro from Long Beach, Calif., who played on the Asian Tour.
Mike Rich (72) and Beau Yokomoto (74) shared the third spot at 217, followed by Kevin Carll (73) another shot back at 218.
Finishing at 219 were Casey Kobashigawa (72), Regan Lee (72), Henry Sieradzki (75) and Ed Tischler (76).
Sally Soranaka, 16, posted a final-round 77 to win the women's title at 228. Wie was second at 231.
Dean Prince, 63, who captured the U.S. Men's Public Links Championship in 1978, won the seniors division with a 72--212.
