NAWILIWILI — Ben Fox of Studio City, Calif., shot a 3-under par 69 to clinch the U.S. Open Local Qualifier, Wednesday at the Kaua‘i Lagoons Golf Club. D. Matthew Pakkala of Honolulu, the Punahou High School golf coach, earned the
NAWILIWILI — Ben Fox of Studio City, Calif., shot a 3-under par 69 to clinch the U.S. Open Local Qualifier, Wednesday at the Kaua‘i Lagoons Golf Club.
D. Matthew Pakkala of Honolulu, the Punahou High School golf coach, earned the First Alternate spot following a one-hole playoff against Mark Scheibach of Bermuda Dunes, Calif., both golfers finishing 18 holes tied at even par 72.
The United States Golf Association conducts 111 local qualifiers for the U.S. Open around the United States and two outside the United States.
Only the top qualifiers from each Local Qualifier will advance to one of 11 36-hole Sectional Qualifiers on June 6.
Of the 11 Sectional Qualifiers scheduled around the United States, at least one player from each qualifier will advance directly to the U.S. Open Championship.
Following Scheibach, Ron Castillo Jr. of Lihu‘e finished five strokes off the pace at 74 (38-36). Thomas Freestone, also of Lihu‘e ended at 76 (39-37).
Glenn Tamagawa (37-40), the Kaua‘i High School golf coach, finished in a tie with Radford Sam Fong (41-36) of Kapa‘a at 77.
Marvin Terada followed two strokes back at 79 (42-37), Steve Murphy of Lawai carded an 81 (44-37), David Werner of Princeville ended with an 83 (42-41) and Kenneth Kimura of Lihu‘e finished with an 86 (47-39).
Bronzen Winters, a former Kaua‘i Junior Golfer and playing for the University of Hawai‘i-Hilo, ended in a tie with Alvin Cadogan of Kalaheo at 87.
Earlier in the U.S. Open qualifying series, Kirk Nelson and Kyle Hayashi won medalist honors at the King Kamehameha Golf Club on Maui, both golfers shooting a 2-over par 74 in the third of four qualifying matches for the U.S. Open.
Royden Heirakuji of Makawao, Maui, finished with a 75 to claim the First Alternate spot.
Skye Inakoshi of Honolulu earned the sole qualifying spot during the second of the four U.S. Open Qualifiers, firing a 72 at the 7,400-yard Hoakalei Country Club on O‘ahu.
Kris Kitt of Ewa Beach, O‘ahu earned First Alternate honors after tying with Doug Spencer, also of Ewa Beach, both golfers finishing with 76.
