DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Regan Lee applied body English after a chip on the third hole.
It wasn't his sharpest round ever, but Regan Lee found a way to scramble his way into the lead of the Mid-Pacific Open yesterday. Lee out in front
at Mid-PacificBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comLee shot a 4-under-par 68 to take a two-stroke lead in the opening round of the 45th annual tournament at Mid-Pacific Country Club in Lanikai.
"I didn't really play good, but I did have a couple of good shots, and I was able to stay away from my bogeys. Somehow I got it under par," Lee said. "I feel pretty good. I missed a lot of putts, so I know there's a lot better score out there."
Tommy Ukauka and Kevin Hayashi follow Lee on the pro flight leader board with scores of 2-under 70. Larry Stubblefield, Philip Chun and Brady Yokooji finished at 1-under 71.
Mark Chun leads the championship flight at 71, followed by Jonathan Ota, Brandan Kop and Parker McLachlin, who all shot even-par 72.
The tournament, one of the few 72-hole events for local professional and amateur players, continues today and runs through Sunday.
Lee won last year's tournament by shooting 16 under par, including an opening-round 65. But he said there are noticeable differences in the course this year that make the race for the $6,000 first prize a bit more challenging.
"The main thing would be the rough," he said. "They made it where it does penalize you now. If you hit it in the rough on the par-5s, you have a pretty good chance to having to lay up rather than being able to reach (the green) in two."
Lee was 1 under on the front nine and bolted ahead with birdies on four of the first five holes on the back nine.
After birdies on the 10th and 12th holes, Lee left his approach on the 13th just short of the green and chipped in for another birdie. After a birdie on the 189-yard par-3 14th, he settled for pars the rest of the way.
"My goal this year is to improve each day," said Lee, who plans to play on the Gateway Tour in Arizona this summer. "Last year I started out with a good round and shot even par the last round. My goal this year, not only for this tournament but for the rest of the year, is to finish stronger. Hopefully I do have something saved up for the last day."
Tournament director Michael Kawaharada said the differences in the course are attributable to new course superintendent Jason Amoy, who worked at Waialae Country Club prior to taking over at Mid-Pacific.
"The greens are harder, the balls don't hold as well as they have in the past," Kawaharada said. "The Mid-Pac open is very special to the club, to showcase the course to the best professional and amateur golfers in Hawaii."
Michael Nakata and Tomi Yamada are tied for first in the A Flight with opening-round scores of 77. Jonathan Young and Vincent Yim also shot 77 to lead the B Flight heading into today's play.
Hawaii State Golf Association
