Tuesday, November 3, 1998
Meyer takes
Star-Bulletin staff
Hawaii State OpenMAKENA, Maui -- Greg Meyer posted a wire-to-wire victory in the Callaway Hawaii State Open with a 54-hole total of 212, after finishing with a par 72 yesterday at the Makena South Course. The victory was worth $6,120 to Meyer.
Jerry Mullen also shot a 72 to finish second at 213 and won $3,670. Both recently played on the Golden Bear Tour in Florida.
Meyer played the first nine 1-over, bogeying 17 and 18 as the nines were reversed for tournament play. That enabled Mullen to pull even.
When Meyer three-putted the second hole for a bogey, Mullen took the lead. Both birdied the next hole, but Meyer did it in dramatic fashion -- holing out a downhill bunker shot from 95 yards.
"That was the key hole for me," said Meyer, who birdied No. 4 to draw even. He then parred in, winning when Mullen bogeyed No. 8 after catching the right green-side bunker.
Beating out the state's best field couldn't have come at a better time, according to Meyer, who leaves today for the Japan PGA Qualifying School, which starts next week.
Dean Wilson was alone in third at 216, while Brian Sasada, last year's winner, posted a 219.
Tommy Ukauka, Lance Suzuki and Philip Chun tied for fifth at 220.
Chun had the day's low round of 68 after playing his second nine in 6-under 30. He missed a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-5 ninth and final hole of the day that would have given him a 29.
Maui's Dean Prince captured the senior flight with a 72--218, while Christel Tomori came from three strokes behind to defeat defending champion Camie Hoshino in the women's flight.
Tomori shot a final-round 73 for a 223 total for 54 holes, while Hoshino, who led the first two rounds, ended with a 77 for a 224 total.
Prince and Tomori each earned $1,000 for their victories.
