A second chance at a pressure putt and mom on his bag made all the difference for Brett Furutani, who won a playoff at the U.S. Amateur Public Links championship qualifier on Monday at Hilo Muni. ADVERTISING A second chance
A second chance at a pressure putt and mom on his bag made all the difference for Brett Furutani, who won a playoff at the U.S. Amateur Public Links championship qualifier on Monday at Hilo Muni.
A second chance at a pressure putt and mom on his bag made all the difference for Brett Furutani, who won a playoff at the U.S. Amateur Public Links championship qualifier on Monday at Hilo Muni.
Under pretty much perfect conditions, Furutani birdied the par-5 first hole to beat Hilo dentist Chris Igawa for the third and final spot to the national publinx.
On No. 1, a 508-yard straight lane, Furutani had a better drive and landing spot than Igawa, whose second shot was partially blocked by the left-side trees.
Furutani’s approach shot was 242 yards from the pin, and he cranked his 3-wood just right and landed 25 feet from the hole.
From a mini-valley below the green, Doc Igawa chipped his third shot, and missed a following 7-foot putt for birdie. That opened the door for Furutani, a pharmacist at Kaiser.
Furutani missed his first putt for eagle, but made the second — a 5-foot birdie and the biggest putt of his golfing career for the playoff win. He’s played in five publinx qualifiers, two in high school and three times after.
“I’ve never been in a situation of this magnitude,” he said. “Obviously, I was very nervous, but it was a good experience. That putt made up for my missed putt on the first playoff hole on Saturday. It was a similar scenario, and I could feel my hands shaking.”
That experience helped. Because on his winning putt Furutani looked quite composed and drained his 5-footer dead center.
“Golf is a big part of my life,” he said. “Playing in the publinx is something I’ve always dreamed about since I was in high school. I really hope I have to chance to go up.”
He got into the playoff by reversing a trend. Furutani, who’s never qualified for the national APL, would usually shoot lower in the first 18 holes and worse in the second round.
On Saturday, his dad Sheldon was on the bag for the first round when he fired a 5-over 76. His mom Claire took over on the second 18, when he had a 74, and the playoffs, too.
Furutani is a 2002 Waiakea graduate, and was a golfer during the school’s glory years, winning Hawaii High School Athletic Association state titles from 1998 to 2001.
Doc Igawa is a 1998 Waiakea graduate, and he just missed being teammates with Furutani. Igawa’s senior year was the start of the Warriors’ dynasty — four consecutive state titles, and another in 2003 when both were gone.
After Saturday’s 36 holes, Furutani, Igawa (78-74—150), Kua Baltero (74-76—150), and Shaun Downie (79-71—150) tied for the third place.
“All the guys in the foursome are my friends,” Furutani said. “Shaun and Kua and I are in the same club, Rounders. Kua’s handicap is zero, Shaun a +1 and I’m a +2. That tells you where we’re all at.
“Chris has been a mentor and given me a lot of tips. I look up to him, and he’s told me what a great experience the national publinx is.”
Dalen Yamauchi (70-71—141) and Clayton Amuro (70-78—148) claimed the other two berths to the national APL, which will be held July 14-19 at Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton, Kan.
Doc Igawa and Furutani were tied after three playoff holes, and Downie was eliminated after the first playoff hole, and Baltero after the second.
Igawa will be the first alternate, in case one of the three qualifiers can’t attend. Baltero will be the second alternate.
Doc Igawa has played in 13 publinx qualifiers, and advanced to the national APL five times.
He was gracious after falling short in the final publinx.
“I want to thank all the participants (53-golfer field), especially this year because we got three berths,” Igawa said. “The Hilo golfing community banded together all these years to make it a great event.”
The United States Golfing Association will retire the 49-year-old APL after the 2014 season. The women’s publinx or WAPL will also be retired.
Four-ball national tourneys will replace both publinx tourneys because, in part, the USGA claimed the format is gaining in popularity.
The national APL champion receives an exemption from qualifying for the next two U.S. Amateurs, local qualifying for the next three U.S. Opens, and an invitation to the Masters.
Manoa Cup
Dalen Yamauchi of Hilo led the contingent of Big Island golfers at the first day of the Hawaii State Golf Association’s Manoa Cup on Monday at Oahu Country Club.
Yamauchi, who just completed his junior season at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and won the U.S. Amateur Public Links championship qualifier in Hilo last week, shot an even-par 71. He will be the No. 13 seed when match play begins Tuesday, where he will face No. 52 Alice B. Kim of Honolulu.
Former UH-Hilo golfer Chris Shimomura, who is from Lahaina, Maui, is No. 17 after parring the course. He will take on No. 48 Keegan Loo of Lihue, Kauai.
Three-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Nainoa Calip of Pahoa — a Kamehameha Hawaii grad who recently wrapped up his golfing career at the University of Hawaii — is No. 22 after shooting 1 over. He will play Lion Rogers of Honolulu on Tuesday.
Loi Chang-Stroman of Kailua-Kona shot 2 over and is No. 25. He’ll face Isaac Jaffurs of Haleiwa, Oahu.
Nick Matsushima, a Manoa Cup runner-up in 2012 who will be a senior at UH-Hilo, shot 75. He will take on No. 22 S.J. Maeng of Aiea, Oahu.
Hilo’s Shon Katahira, who recently completed his sophomore year at Waiakea High School, also made the cut after a first-round 77. He will play No. 10 Scotty Yamashita of Kapolei, Oahu.
Brandon Phillips of Kailua-Kona missed the cut after carding an 81.
Match play continues through Saturday.
Stephens Media Hawaii’s Eric Knopsnyder contributed to this report.
