With Christmas just around the corner, golfers and officials have an appropriate theme for the Hawaii State Open at Mauna Lani.
“Our theme for this week is red, not only because of the Christmas spirit, but also hoping to keep some red numbers on the board with the players chasing down those birdies out there,” said Wes Wailehua, executive director and chief executive officer at Aloha Section PGA.
The historic event, which has roots reaching back almost a century ago, began Thursday with the Pro-Am event, benefiting the Aloha Section PGA foundation. The championship tournament begins Friday and runs through Sunday.
“It is a culmination of many events and the end of the Aloha Section PGA tour tournament season,” Wailehua said. “It brings everyone together at the end of the season in celebration of the game, competition and friendship.”
It took extra golf to decide the Men’s Open division champion last year, with UH-Hilo alum Nick Mason edging past 2012 champion Dean Wilson in a three-hole playoff.
The tournament — which has the goal of “determining the best golfer in the islands” — draws a field of 170 male and female players from across the state, mainland and other countries with a total purse of $60,000.
Mason will be going up against a stacked field, which includes Parker McLachlin, TJ Kua and Eric Dugas.
David Fink, who captured the low-amateur title last year, will be playing his first Hawaii State Open as a pro. It is just his second tournament overall with the distinction.
“It has always been a dream of mine to go pro and what better way to make a name for myself and the state of Hawaii,” said Fink, an Iolani graduate and a two-time All-Pac-12 second-team selection at Oregon State. “I’m hoping for similar results this year. There is some luck involved, but you just got to stay positive and keep at it.”
The Senior Open division will be equally competitive, with multiple past tournament champions in the field, including defending champ Jeff Coston from the Pacific Northwest.
Legendary Big Island golfers Kevin Hayashi — Men’s Open division winner in 1999, 2000, and ’01 — and Steve Veriato — a back-to-back winner in 1976-77 — will be in the field. Others include Scott Simpson (1979, ’81, ’93, ’94) and Casey Nakama (’87).
Though he is still capable of competing in the Open division, Waiakea High graduate Hayashi opted for the Senior division.
“For me, I could play in the regular division but I like playing in the Senior because I get to play with guys like Scott Simpson, Steve Veriato, Jeff Coston and Casey Nakama,” Hayashi said. “I like this tournament because I never really got a chance to play with these guys. At the other tournaments, I play with the younger kids, but this one is great to have fun at.”
Veriato echoed Hayashi about the camaraderie.
“For a lot of the guys, this is the biggest tournament they will play in and I’ve seen them out there getting ready,” Veriato said. “That puts me back 40 or 50 years. Now it is a little different. It’s fun to come out here.
“There is so much history and work that goes into this tournament. The younger generation is very fortunate to have it.”
Players to watch in the Men’s amateur competition are John Oda, Kyle Suppa and Nainoa Calip.
Mari Chun returns to defend her women’s championship.
This is the third year the event is being held on the Mauna Lani courses.
“While many courses on the mainland are under snow, these golfers get to experience this Mauna Lani course at its best,” Wailehua said. “I think a lot of people who are golfers forget about Mauna Lani and its history. We are fortunate Mauna Lani resort and (Mauna Lani Resort President Takashi Yamakawa) share the vision of growing the game.
The experience here is like to none other. For a lot of the players out here, this tournament is where they become legends of the game in Hawaii and have an opportunity to add their names to a very lengthy and impressive list of past champions.”