Chulakote
chases off charge
to capture state title

The 17-year-old golfer wins
the Hawaii Amateur Stroke Play
tournament by one shot

---

By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

Another major local golf tournament yesterday produced yet another young champion.

Chase Chulakote, 17, shot a pressure-packed 3-under-par 69 to capture the Hawaii State Amateur Stroke Play title by one shot at Pearl Country Club.

The Kailua High School senior -- who fought off fellow teenagers Travis Toyama and Michelle Wie, among others -- said it is his biggest win by far.

"The only other events I've won are some junior golf tournaments," he said.

But Chulakote played like a seasoned professional yesterday as he staved off a late charge by Mark West with a steady and sometimes spectacular short game.

Chulakote finished at 6 under par for the 72-hole tournament. West, who went into yesterday's final with a one-stroke lead, shot 1 under yesterday and nearly came back to catch Chulakote. Toyama was one more shot behind and finished third.

Wie, 13, tied for fourth at 2-under 286 with Jonathan Ota after shooting a 71. Wie carded a 68 on Saturday, attracting a sizable gallery yesterday hoping to witness history.

But as the final round went on, some of the spectators gravitated to Chulakote and the other leaders. He delivered, keeping his poise and the lead despite intermittent rain that delayed play.

"It didn't really bother me," he said. "I just kept in my mind how the rain would affect my shots."

After a beautiful downhill, 30-foot birdie putt on No. 11 after a recovery shot over trees and a trap to get there, Chulakote led West and Toyama by two strokes. Although he was usually outdriven by the other two, his short game more than made up for it, and it appeared Chulakote would be hard to catch with seven holes left.

"I don't worry about that," said Chulakote, who usually drives around 270 yards. "Just as long as I can get the ball out there on the fairway and have a good shot at the green, I'm happy."

So is his caddy, Kailua golf coach Kevin Ralbovsky.

"We were tempted to go for it a couple of times, especially on the par 5 (17th hole)," Ralbovsky said. "A lot of high school kids get enthralled with power, but Chase has a certain maturity and plays a controlled game. He's a very composed individual."

Chulakote pulled a 4-foot putt right -- one of his few short misses on the green all week -- on the par-3 No. 16 and recorded just his second and last bogey of the day (he had five birdies). That brought West and Toyama within one stroke.

West birdied the 17th after chipping to within 4 feet, but Chulakote kept the lead with an 8-foot putt. Toyama fell out of contention when his birdie try from 6 feet lipped out.

Chulakote's tee shot on 18 stopped behind a tree and he was forced to punch the ball onto the fairway, 40 yards from the pin. Meanwhile, West reached the green on his second shot, 40 feet from the hole.

Chulakote then made his best shot when he needed it most. He hit a lob wedge that bit on the wet green 2 feet from the cup.

"I knew I needed to make par on that hole," he said. "I just told myself this is the most important shot of the tournament and to bear down."

After West missed his long putt, Chulakote made his for the victory.

"He's a great scrambler and he putts very well," said West, an Air Force dependent who has won the last two Barber's Point Invitationals. "I had a lot of fun watching him play. Obviously I wanted to win, but I was glad he held on that last hole."

Wie said she was happy with her round, but had some problems with her grip because of the rain.

"My iron shots weren't as close today," Wie said.

She leaves Friday for the LPGA's Kraft Nabisco Championship, which will be played March 27-30 at Rancho Mirage, Calif. Wie played in three LPGA events last year, failing to make the cut each time.