KJGA raises $20K in tournament fundraiser

The Kauai Junior Golf Fundraiser took place Oct. 22 on The Oceans Course at Hokuala.

About $20,000 was raised, said event co-chair person and parent volunteer Yen Upson. The fundraiser was to help the Kauai Junior Golf Association provide its youth golfers with:

w Free lessons for new players.

w Clinics and rules of golf sessions with PGA professionals at little to no cost.

w Opportunity to travel and play in off-island tournaments.

w Payment for play on most of Kauai’s courses at little to no cost.

w Assistance with higher educational pursuits with scholarships to qualified juniors.

Fifty-one teams participated in the one-day tournament. The event was a two-person team modified scramble with a two-putt maximum with varying handicaps.

The top-five teams were: 1. Kent Kikuchi and Ryan Oshiro, -12.3; 2. Michael Oride and Gail Oride, -11.9; 3. Scot Nonaka and Chad Nonaka, -11.7; 4. Matthew Blythe and Jhoi Vorachack, -10.9; 5. Clesson Pang and Sharron Weber, -10.

Prizes included a car for a hole-in-one, rounds of golf and staycation packages.

The KJGA was founded in the 1960s to introduce youngsters to the sport and help develop their skills. The association is a non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.