• Rookie wins • Palama stuck it in • Irwin wins First Tee Open Rookie wins FONTANA, Calif. — Kyle Busch raced to his first Nextel Cup victory Sunday night in a race that went to overtime and scrambled the
• Rookie wins
• Palama stuck it in
• Irwin wins First Tee Open
Rookie wins
FONTANA, Calif. — Kyle Busch raced to his first Nextel Cup victory Sunday night in a race that went to overtime and scrambled the bottom of the top 10 in the point standings with only one more event left before the start of the NASCAR play-off.
While the 20-year-old Busch, a rookie and the younger brother of reigning Cup champion Kurt Busch, took control late in the 254-lap race at California Speedway, 2003 series champ Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray jumped into the top 10, while Ryan Newman and four-time champion Jeff Gordon fell out.
Only the top 10 drivers in the points following next Saturday night’s race at Richmond will be eligible to contend for the championship during the last 10 races of the season.
Busch, driving a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, led 95 laps on the way to the victory in his 31st career start. But the focus throughout the long night was on the contenders for The Chase for the championship.
Greg Biffle, already solidly in The Chase, finished second, followed by Brian Vickers, Busch’s teammate; Carl Edwards; series points leader Tony Stewart; and Kasey Kahne.
Palama stuck it in
Koloa’s Dana Palama nailed a hole-in-one at the Kaua‘i Lagoons Mokihana Golf Course on Friday, Sept. 2.
Palama used a pitching wedge on the 15th hole (149 yards). Witnesses were Joey Jenkins and Austin.
Also, Kapa‘a’s Paul Morimoto slapped in an ace with good buddies, Tyson “T-Mo” Moises and Kenji “Q-Man” Quinones watching patiently at the Kiele Course.
Morimoto used a 6-iron on the 5th hole (176 yards).
Moises, a former KIF basketball player of the year, witnessed nothing like this in his life.
“It hopped twice like a frog landing on a lily pad. It was spectacular and awesome,” Moises said.
Irwin wins First Tee Open
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Hale Irwin won for the first time since turning 60 in June, shooting a 4-under 68 at Pebble Beach on Sunday for a one-stroke victory over three players in the Champions Tour’s First Tee Open.
Irwin, a three-time winner this year and the tour’s career leader with 43 victories, had a 13-under 203 total. The three-time U.S. Open champion is the first player 60 or older to win since J.C. Snead in 2002.
Irwin made a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 17 and closed with a par to hold off 2004 winner Craig Stadler (67), Morris Hatalsky (67) and Gil Morgan (69).
