TURTLE BAY — University of Hawai‘i Freshman T.J. Kua went wire to wire to win the 2008 Turtle Bay Amateur, Sunday. Kua shot 73 on Turtle Bay Resort’s George Fazio and won the sixth annual event by two shots over
TURTLE BAY — University of Hawai‘i Freshman T.J. Kua went wire to wire to win the 2008 Turtle Bay Amateur, Sunday.
Kua shot 73 on Turtle Bay Resort’s George Fazio and won the sixth annual event by two shots over 2007 Turtle Bay Amateur champion Bradley Shigezawa.
Kua stated he was not as confident as he was Saturday where he felt in total control of his ball hitting all 18 greens.
Sunday’s round was different, needing to rely on his short game to save par and maintain his lead.
“I was thinking too much and trying to make things happen” said Kua who is the nephew to Hawai‘i Golf Hall of Famer David Ishii.
“I was a little tense on the back nine when the lead was only 2, but the eagle kind of calmed me down,” he said talking about his eagle on the Fazio Courses 4th hole. Calling that hole, “the turning point,” Kua extended his lead over Shigezawa to three shots and calmed his nerves to bring the victory home.
Kua’s main focus right now is playing well on the University of Hawai‘i men’s golf team’s remaining events, a trip to San Diego and back home to play two tournaments including the Turtle Bay Resort College Invitational November 8 to 12.
Shigezawa posted the low round of the day shooting a four under par 68 which had five birdies and a bogey.
This year’s A flight Champion was determined through a two-hole payoff between William Enomoto, James Amihara, and John Iyoki.
After Iyoki was eliminated on the first playoff hole, Enomoto won the 2nd playoff hole and took home top honors.
Enomoto had a final round 80 and a two day total of 156.
B flight honors went to Dexter Chun who made a birdie on his 18th hole to beat Stephen Lindsey by one shot.
Byron Lee won the C Flight with a Sunday round 85 on the Arnold Palmer Course.
Turtle Bay Resort is O‘ahu’s only 36-hole golf resort and is host to many events throughout the year including the U.S. Open Local and Sectional Qualifying, Turtle Bay Aloha Section PGA Match Play, Turtle Bay Resort College Invitational and numerous junior events.
It is also home to the LPGA’s SBS Open at Turtle Bay.
