Fujikawa’s major experience ends

For one day, the 15-year old Moanalua student shoots better than some of the world's best

Like the good guys on "Lost," players at the U.S. Open must beware of the others. On the TV series they are mysterious island inhabitants; in golf, "others" is the collective designation for double bogeys and worse. And they have been plentiful at Winged Foot.

Tadd Fujikawa shot a 77 with eight bogeys yesterday, but none of the dreaded others.

The 15-year-old Moanalua High School student didn't make the cut, and no one had expected it of him. But he did shoot a better second-round score than Tiger Woods and a few other of the world's best players.

That was a stark contrast to his first-round 81 on Thursday that included three double bogeys.

"I played pretty good today. I felt like I shot three or four under today," Fujikawa said in a phone interview yesterday. "Yes, it was tough conditions again. But it's supposed to be. It's the U.S. Open."

Fujikawa also managed to get a birdie yesterday after not doing so on Thursday. He hit a 305-yard drive on the 515-yard par-5 No. 5. His second shot landed in a bunker fronting the green, but Fujikawa's wedge stopped within 2 feet of the hole.

"That was pretty good," he said.

Fujikawa's two-day total of 18-over 158 left him alone in 140th place in the 156-player field. It also left him with two days with a lot of free time.

"I hope to play some golf, although I'm not sure where yet. I'm going to relax, go to the city and see what it's like.

"I'm going to New York City to get away from the crowd," he said. Fujikawa immediately caught the humor in his statement and began to laugh. "Actually, I guess I'll be heading right into another crowd."

Fujikawa's next tournament is the Rolex Tournament of Champions, a junior event July 5-9 at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, Colo.

What will it be like for him to play among his peers again after the U.S. Open?

"I don't know," Fujikawa said.

The only current PGA Tour pro with Hawaii ties, Castle graduate Dean Wilson, also did not make it to the weekend. His 76-75--151 missed the cutline by two strokes and left him tied for 73rd.

Wilson, who tied for 30th in the 2001 U.S. Open (he also played but missed the cut in 2003), made two birdies and seven bogeys yesterday.