From left, Kate Nakaoka, Remington Hirano, Matthew Ma (HSGA Photo)
Remington Hirano was able to erase a three-shot deficit heading into the final round and win the 2024 Hawaii State Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Leilehua Golf Course in the Schofield Barracks, Hi.
Hirano shot a final round 2-under 70 to finish 7-under and win by one shot over 54-hole leader Joshua Hayashida, who finished in solo second place at 6-under.
Hayashida entered the final round at 8-under and three shots clear of the field, but a final round 2-over 74 with three bogeys and just one birdie opened the door for Hirano to take over the lead.
Hirano started his round with a bogey on No. 2, but from there on, recorded birdies on holes No. 4 and 6 and an eagle on No. 11 to get to 8-under. He bogeyed No. 18 with a two shot lead to still win by one.
Kolbe Irei finished in solo third place at 5-under, and Tyler Ogawa finished in solo fourth place at 4-under. Dane Watanabe finished in solo fifth place at 3-under to round out the top five.
In the Women's Division, Kate Nakaoka went wire-to-wire to win by two shots over Alexa Takai. Nakaoka carded rounds of 68-72-71-72 to finish 5-under. Her first-round 4-under 68 was good enough to give her a comfortable first-round lead, and she managed to hold on for the win.
Takai shot rounds of 71-72-70-72 to finish 3-under and in solo second place.
Ava Cepeda finished in solo third place at 8-over, 13 shots back of Nakaoka.
In the Mid-Amateur Division, Matthew Ma finished 2-under to win by three shots. Ma recorded rounds of 72-73-70-71 to finish 2-under and was the only golfer to shoot under par in the division.
Shawn Sakoda finished in solo second place at 1-over, and Spencer Shishido finished in solo third place at 4-over.
Ma finished in solo eighth place at the 2021 Hawaii State Amateur, T6 in the 2020 Hawaii State Amateur, and in solo third place at the 2019 Hawaii State Amateur.
Many past winners have gone on to tournament success nationally and internationally. These include Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame members Larry Stubblefield (1972 & 1984 Winner, PGA Tour member 1972-1975), David Ishii (1978 Winner, 14 wins on the Japan Golf Tour), and Guy Yamamoto (1995 Winner, 1994 U.S. Amateur Public Links Champion).
Other Hawaii State Amateur winners and Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame members include: Paul Spengler Jr. (1964, 1965), Allan Yamamoto (1966, 1970), Hung Soo Ahn (1967), Wendell Kop (1969, 1971), Al Souza (1973), Brandan Kop (1980.1996), and Dan Nishimoto (1981).
Multiple winners include Damien Jamila (1990, 1991, 1992, 1998), Regan Lee (1997, 1999), Matt Kodama (2004, 2005), and college stars Lorens Chan (2009, 2011), John Oda (2012, 2013) and Kyle Suppa (2014, 2016).
ABOUT THE Hawaii State Amateur
72-hole stroke play championship, with Men's Open,
Men's Mid-Amateur, and Women's Open divisions.
Golfers
are
required to be a member of the Hawaii
State
Golf Association and a
USGA Licensed Club.
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