Golf: Dean Wilson leads after first round at Hawaii State Open

MAUNA LANI — Dean Wilson carded a five-under score of 67 in the first round of the Hawaii State Open on Friday, taking a narrow lead in the Men’s Open Division.

Wilson is a three-time champion (2014, ‘12, ‘07) at the tournament, which is regarded as the the year-end signature event for the Aloha Section PGA.

SJ Maeng sits one stroke back, and two strokes behind is TJ Kua after the first day of the 54-hole stroke-play event at Mauna Lani’s Francis H. I’i Brown North and South courses.

Defending champion and one time UH-Hilo golfer Nick Mason is in a six-way tie at two-under par (70), putting him three strokes behind Wilson.

In the Senior Open Division, Bill Breen and Tom Sovay are tied for the lead, both firing a three-under par (69). Kevin Burton follows by one stroke, posting a two-under par (70) on the North Course. In the Senior Amateur Division, Lihue’s Jonathan Ota and Waikoloa’s Richard Gillette lead at 73, three strokes ahead of Carl Ho.

Also on the North Course, Nicole Sakamoto leads the Women’s Open finishing one-under par (71) just two strokes ahead of defending champion Britney Yada (73). Low-amateur Kaylee Akagi carded a 78 to lead the lady amateurs. In A-Flight, there is a three-way tie for the lead at 79 between David Budway, Warren Doenz and Rob Long.

First played in 1920 as the Hawaiian State Open, the event eventually became a PGA Tour stop known to the golfing world as the Hawaiian Open. In 1976, the Aloha Section PGA revived the event as the ultimate golf championship for professionals and amateurs with the purpose of determining the best golfer in the islands.

The tournament has a field of over 165 players, male and female, from across the state, U.S. mainland and other countries with a total purse of $60,000. The second round begins at 6:45 a.m. today. The final round is scheduled for Sunday.