Kahuku, HI – Jesse Mueller of Mesa, AZ captured the title with a seven shot advantage to capture the title at the Turtle Bay Resort Hawaii State Open. This was Jesse's second victory (Pearl Open) in Hawaii this year on three tries.
ImuaGolf staff were one of the few media covering the event for the entire last day of competition. We will continue our coverage of Hawaii State Golf with live updated on Twitter as well as our blogs on ImuaGolf.com. The last day of competition offered perfect golf conditions overcast, 75 degrees and almost no winds. As Mueller stated when we interviwed him ther was pristine conditions today. Mueller's fiance (Jessie - to be married in March/April 2010) was supporting him even though (as Mueller stated) she could have stayed at the beach soaking up the sun instead. When we asked him he stated that this was one of the main reasons he kept his game on such a high level all three days (ending with a 64 - 8 under par...). Jesse will return to defend his Pearl Open victory in 2010, but next are some tournaments in the Gateway tour and he hopes that he will obtain some exemptions for Nationwide tours event in early 2010. Mueller will not be qualifying for the Sony Open, but "Maybe I should have" he stated to ImuaGolf.com when asked about the event and qualifying to it - "I did it last year, but after the success in 2009 maybe I should have...". 

The lowest Amateur score was held by David Fink from Kailua, who shot 67. This earned him a tied for third spot - way to go David, congratulations going pro maybe?

The Open was held at Turtle Bay Golf’s Arnold Palmer and George Fazio golf courses from Dec. 17 – 20. A record 252 golfers from around the state and from the mainland gathered to compete in Hawaii’s premier local golfing event.

Mueller (33-31), 2009 Hawaii Pearl Open champion, shot an 8-under-par 64 on the Fazio course in today’s final round to win the Open division with a three day total of 19-under-par 197. In second place was Dean Wilson (32-34), who just celebrated his 40th birthday last Thursday, shot a 6-under-par 66 for a three day total of 12-under-par 204. Tied for third at 9-under-par 207 were Samuel Cyr (34-32) of San Diego, CA, Michael Feuerstein (35-31) of La Jolla, CA and low amateur David Fink (33-34) of Kailua, HI.


 

Kirk Nelson (37-37) of Makena Golf Course, who just turned 50 last Monday, shot a final round 74 to capture the Senior Division title with a three day total 10-under-par 206. Two shots back in second place was Champions Tour player Dave Eichelberger (36-31) with a three day total 208. In third was Aloha Section PGA Senior Player of the Year Lance Taketa (33-38) of Hilo Muni Golf Course with a three day total 211. Low Senior amateur Eric Sonnenberg (36-38) came in 5th place at 215.

There was a three way tie for first in the Women’s Division at 220. LPGA member Katie Kempter (37-37) of Albuquerque, NM won the title after birdying the second playoff hole against defending champion, Cyd Okino (37-39) of Honolulu, HI and Xyra Suyetsugu (37-35) of Honolulu, HI. Okino, 16, captured the low amateur honors.

Justin Kurihara, 13, of Honolulu, HI shot a 75 for a three day total 220 to win the Men’s A-Flight division and Iris Kawada, 12, of Kaneohe, HI won the Women’s A-Flight with a 254.

The tournament is a stroke play format with a cut to the low 33% and ties after 36 holes. All competitors completing 54 holes with an official score received purse money or merchandise certificates (amateurs). The Professionals competed for a purse of $45,000 and the amateur purse was $10,000 in merchandise certificates. We expanded the field size this year to include a record 261 players registered.


Field Size Division Eligibility

144 Open Men's Division Professionals & Amateurs 4.2 Index or less

28 Men’s A-Flight Amateurs 4.3 to 10.6 Index

55 Senior Division Professionals & Amateurs 9.9 Index or less

27 Women's Division Professionals & Amateurs 9.9 Index or less

7 Women’s A-Flight Amateurs 10.0 to 18.0 Index


“Our early convictions to expand the event’s number of divisions, having access to two championship golf courses at a single location and coupled with world-class resort accommodations, all support the Aloha Section PGA goal to raise the tournament profile and increase participation of this marquee event,” says Jim Haugh, Executive Director/CEO with Aloha Section PGA. “Matt Hall, Bob Boyle and their respective ‘team members’ have embraced and shared in this vision for the event’s future success.”


The Aloha Section PGA and Turtle Bay Resort entered into a three year agreement to promote local, Hawaiian golf tournaments at the same time that economical concerns took away the SBS Open and the Turtle Bay Championship. The concept was simple: just promote local and international talent at two of the world’s most phenomenal golf courses…the Arnold Palmer and the George Fazio at Turtle Bay Resort.

Notables like Tadd Fujikawa, Jarett Hamamoto (qualified for final stage of PGA Q-School), David Ishii and Nick Mason (Defending Champion) were also in the field. Other standout players entered were Aloha Section PGA Player of the Year Kevin Hayashi and Bradley Shigezawa are just to name a few. We also had a surprise entry by world renowned professional surfer Kelly Slater to round out the field. The Finau brothers were also in the field with runner up Big Break Disney Tony Finau tied for 16th on -2 total.


Traditionally Hawaii’s last tournament of the year, the Hawaii State Open is also one of the state’s oldest events. First played in the 1920s, the tournament was the ultimate championship to determine the best golfer in the Islands. After major changes to the tournament that established it as an annual PGA Tour stop but excluded local players, the tournament did not return to its original form until the Aloha Section PGA took the reins in 1993. With the goal of enhancing the tournament’s rich traditions, the ASPGA strove to host the event at the best courses throughout the islands. In 2006, the ASPGA handed the event over to the ASPGA Foundation in order to raise additional funds for the promotion of golf throughout the islands and in support of junior golf programs.


Past champions of the Hawaii State Open include 1987 US Open Champion Scott Simpson, PGA Tour Player Dean Wilson, Kevin Hayashi, Jarett Hamamoto, Casey Nakama, Brian Sasada, and Japan PGA touring professional and local favorite David Ishii. Former Hawaii native Nick Mason will attempt to defend his 2008 title at this year’s event.


“It is an honor to not only be the host but to also be the title sponsor of this event”, Vice President and General Manager of Turtle Bay Resort Bob Boyle stated. “We feel it is a privilege, in these uncertain economic times, to be able to invest in the future of golf in Hawaii.”