Hilo Invitational: Mason masters Muni

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

As he was finishing his dissection of Hilo Municipal Golf Course, Nick Mason exhibited one brief moment of mediocrity.

As he was finishing his dissection of Hilo Municipal Golf Course, Nick Mason exhibited one brief moment of mediocrity.

He lost focus on No. 17 and took an infuriating double-bogey, calling it a lesson learned for a later day.

But he’ll probably never have to put it to use here: This is the Hilo Invitational, and Mason is its master.

The former University of Hawaii at Hilo golfer finished with another sizzling round, claiming his fifth title by turning in a tournament-record 16-under after a 6-under 65.

“Every win helps a lot,” said Mason, who pocketed $5,000. “I need this a lot. We need every little bit, and a win is a win, excluding the money. It helps your confidence, it helps going forward.

“And I think this year, professionally-wise, was the best field in Hilo (Invitational) history.”

Hilo Muni was still abuzz about Mason’s 61 on Saturday. Tournament co-chair Kevin Hayashi announced the winner as the “Nick Mason Hilo Invitational champion.”

Mason called it his best two-day run at Hilo Muni.

“It’s not even close,” he said.

Nor was the tournament. Mason finished six strokes ahead of Max Bonk (66), a Hawaii Prep graduate, while Jake Grodzinsky (67) came in at 7-under.

And somewhere, UHH men’s golf coach Earl Tamiya was smiling.

UHH senior Corey Kozuma closed with a 69 to take the amateur title at 2-under, one shot better than another former Vulcan, Isaac Jaffurs.

“For two Vulcans to win, that’s huge,” Mason said. “Earl should be really proud.”

He started his assault by making an 8-foot birdie on No. 1. And it wasn’t just another putt. Mason said he savored its speed and center-of-the-cup accuracy and used it as a confident-booster as he birded five of the first six holes to pull away.

“It was kind of fun to watch,” said Bonk, who won $2,500. “We were just kind of there to watch, but you try to shoot as low as you can. Unless he makes a mistake, you can’t catch him because he’s so far out there.”

Ahead by nine strokes, Mason was flirting with another 10-under until his double-bogey on the par-5 No. 17. The “7 ” was a lonely number on his scorecard. Mason made either birdie or eagle on his other seven par-5 tries in the tournament.

“You know what that taught me?” he said. “You can not let the foot off the gas for one second. You can’t let that happen, even if you’re leading (big). You’ve got to learn that one day if I was tied for the lead, you can’t let your mind wander or that happens.”

But he added: “Even if your mind wanders to France, you can’t mess that (lead) up.”

Waimea’s Bonk, a former winner at the Kona Open, picked up steam on the back nine, making five birdies during a seven-hole stretch.

Bonk has played in pro tournaments in Japan, but he works at Four Seasons Resorts Hualalai and tries to play in as many Hawaii tournaments as he can.

“I didn’t play golf until a week before I came here,” he said. “After work, I got a few chipping sessions in before it got dark.

“I came over here and used the Pro-Am as a practice round and to loosen up.”

Former champion Jarett Hamamoto closed with a 70 and was at 6-under in fourth. Jared Sawada (73), who played in the lead threesome, was another three shots back in fifth.

Kozuma, who tied for sixth overall, scored his second come-from-behind amateur victory of the summer and earned a $750 gift certificate.

He was disappointed by his performances at the NCAA Division II championships and the Manoa Cup, but he won the Barbers Point Invitational on Oahu in July.

After a bogey on No. 16 and three-putt bogey on No. 17 on Sunday, an eagle on No. 1 proved to be the turning point.

“These past two tournament have been great,” he said. “Mentally, I’m a lot stronger than I was before. I could win with not my best stuff. And when I play well, I’m confident I’ll be in contention.”

Kozuma has exhausted his eligibility as a Vulcan, and he’s on pace to graduate with a degree in business marketing after the fall semester.

His goal is to turn pro at some point and emulate the best golfer the Vulcans have churned out to date.

“I got in touch with (Nick Mason) my sophomore year, and he helped get me where I needed to be and elevate my game,” Kozuma said. “I definitely want to try and play like he’s doing right now.

“I feel like my game is getting better, but I’m not on that level yet where I can compete and be successful like Nick.”

Ciera Min (2-over) was the top female finisher, tying for 16th.

Hilo Invitational

At Hilo Municipal Golf Course

Par 71

Sunday

Final round

Nick Mason, $5,000 61-65— 126

Max Bonk, $2,500 66-66— 132

Jake Grodzinsky, $1,500 68-67— 135

Jarett Hamamoto, $1,000 66-70—136

Jared Sawada, $850 66-73—139

Kyle Hayashi, $750 71-69— 140

Corey Kozuma, $750 71-69—140

Isaac Jaffurs, $650 72-69— 141

Kevin Hayashi, $650 68-73—141

Ric Yamamoto, $450 72-70—142

Trevor Hirata, $300 70-72—142

Tommy Yamashita, $250 70-72—142

Clayton Amuro, $200 72-71—143

TJ Kua, $550 69-74—143

Alika Bell, $175 68-75—143

Michael Sato, $400 71-73—144

Nainoa Calip, $125 70-74—144

Chris Igawa, $100 71-73—144

Ciera Min, $100 70-74—144

Chris Keiter, $400 70-74—144

Tracy Kitamura, $100 74-71—145

Blaine Fujimoto, $100 73-72—145

Kyeton Littel, $100 73-72—145

Dalen Yamauchi, $100 72-73—145

Kimberly Kim, $225 72-73—145

Hunter Larson, $225 71-74—145

Matthew Ma, $100 71-74—145

Larry Ishimine, $166.77 72-74—146

David Kim, $166.77 70-76—146

Shaun Downie, $100 70-76—146

Todd Rego, $166.77 67-79—146

Spencer Shishido, $150 69-78—147

Nani Yanagi, $100 75-73—148

Ryan Acosta, $100 73-75—148

Shon Katahira, $100 73-75—148

JJ Oakley, $100 76-73—149

Steve Murphy, $100 75-74— 149

Kevin Shimomura, $100 74-75—149

Brandon Phillips, $100 74-75—149

Casey Nakama 78-72—150

Lance Taketa 77-73— 150

Pono Calip 76-74—150

Schyler Murakami 73-77 —150

Jeff Ferry 71-79—150

Stephen Zane 69-81—150

Darryl Yagi 76-75—151

Jay Taise 73-78—151

Douglas Oki 72-79—151

Herman Manalili 76-76—152

Adrian Doo 75-77—152

Andy Okita 78-75—153

Anson Almeida 80-74—154

Casey Tamura 79-76—155

Preston Ching 79-76—155

Daryl Inaba 77-78—155

Pono Yanagi 76-79—155

Trey Kidd 75-80—155

Collin Torngren 74-81—155

Raymond Gorman 74-81—155

Colin Hashiro 75-81—156

Tevita Tuituturaga 74-82 -156

Stephen Winchester 82-75—157

Peter Rice 79-78—157

Davin Yagi 80-78—158

Vernon Silva 82-77—159

Regan Lee 80-79—159

Ross Mitsutani 79-80—159

Lee Kagawa 78-82—160

Jay Bartholomew 80-81—161

Ryley Chong 77-84—161

Shantel Antonio 77-84—161

Ryan Lloyd 82-80—162

Isaiah Kanno 84-79—163

Michael Garcia 84-81—165

Michael Liverett 82-83—165

Deron Akiona 83-86—169

Dean Prince WD-80

Brett Smith NC-81