Kaua‘i golfers Jonathan Ota and T.J. Kua helped the Amateur team retain the Governor’s Cup after beating the Professional team by two points, Tuesday at the Mid-Pacific Country Club on O‘ahu. Ota, a 3 & 2 winner over Lance Taketa,
Kaua‘i golfers Jonathan Ota and T.J. Kua helped the Amateur team retain the Governor’s Cup after beating the Professional team by two points, Tuesday at the Mid-Pacific Country Club on O‘ahu.
Ota, a 3 & 2 winner over Lance Taketa, and Kua, a 7 & 6 winner over Joe Phengsavath, helped the Amateurs break an all square match heading into the final round singles matches.
“It proved to be another great match and a tremendous battle between Hawai‘i’s best professional and amateur golfers with the championship coming down to the final matches of the day,” said Joy Kunshima of the PGA headquarters, in a release.
Ron Castillo Jr., another Kaua‘i golfer, was on the Professional team and took his match 4 & 3 over Nainoa Calip in the final round.
Among the field of Professionals, Castillo was the Past Section Player of the Year, and Taketa was the Senior Player of the Year.
Among the Amateurs, Kua won the Manoa Cup and Barbers Point Invitational, point leader Ryan Perez won the Army Invitational and Lorens Chan, a 1 Up winner over Eric Dugas, captured the OCC Invitational and State Stroke Play Championship.
The victory gives the Amateurs its third consecutive and 13th win over the Professionals. The Amateurs have won against the Professionals 12 other times with a tie in 1983 during the Cup’s 37-year history.
The Governor’s Cup, played at the Mid-Pacific Country Club Nov. 23-24, is Hawai‘i’s version of the Ryder Cup, contested between the top 12 professionals and amateurs in the state.
Teams are selected on the basis of outstanding performances in designated tournaments throughout the year.
First day format included two 18-hole team matches, a Four Ball Match (Best Ball) and a Foursome Match (Scotch).
Final day format was individual matches.
The Governor’s Cup honors the memory of the late Governor of Hawai‘i, John A. Burns, who was a strong leader and supporter of golf.
Burns was inducted into the Hawai‘i Golf Hall of Fame during its inaugural year in 1988 for his efforts in bringing the prestigious Canada Cup (World Cup) Matches and the Hawaiian Open to Hawai‘i.
For more information, visit www.aloha.pga.com.
