Tribune-Herald
Tribune-Herald
Paauilo’s Sean Maekawa, a 2007 Honokaa graduate, shot an even-par 72 and won a three-way playoff to capture the U.S. Open local qualifier on Tuesday at The Club at Kukuiula on Kauai.
Kauai’s Bronzen Winters is the first alternate and Honolulu’s Donald Pakkala is the second alternate.
Other Big Island golfers were Kailua-Kona’s Kristopher Kitt, 76, and Chris Keither, 81.
There were 15 players in the field.
Maekawa advances to the 36-hole U.S. Open sectional, which will be held June 4 at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Oregon, a course he knows well from his days as an Oregon Duck. He graduated last year.
The automatic berths to the U.S. Open will be determined by the size of the field. There are 13 sectionals, one each in Europe and Japan, and the rest on the mainland.
The U.S. Open will be held June 14-17 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.