Congratulations to Matt Kodama the 2004 Hawaii State Amateur Stroke-Play Champion!

Matt Kodama above left and Jay Hinazumi (tournament director) right

Professional scoreboard services provided by the masters, David (above right) & Amy Kim (above left). I'd also like to thank David for printing & posting 808golf.com's daily tournament highlights.

2.14.2004 Aiea, Hawaii- 22-year-old Matt Kodama (left) a senior on the UH Manoa golf team from Las Vegas, Nevada birdied the 72^nd hole to win by one stroke over team mate 24-year-old James Beston also a senior from Sydney, Australia. Today at Pearl the weather was beautiful unlike yesterday, windy though and a bit chilly. It doesn’t get any better than this and it unfolded like so… we pick up the action thru 63 holes (thru the first nine of the final round), Del-Marc Fujita 3-under (started the day at 6-under), Matt Kodama 1-under (started the day 3-under), James Beston 1-under (started the day 2-over) and Jonathan Mathias 3-over (started the day even). On #10 all players pared but on #11 (Par 4), Fujita bogied and gave a shot back to Kodama and Beston who both made par, Fujita heads to the 12^th tee with a 1 stroke lead. Then on #12 Fujita hit his second shot to the right and had tree trouble. Trying to hit his third shot through the trees, Fujita was unlucky as it hit a tree and dropped straight down. Fujita’s fourth shot was just off the green but was left with a down hill slippery putt to save his par. Mean while Kodama & Beston made their par 5’s. Fujita putting for par from about 30’ left his putt about 5’ short and still had a down hiller to save bogey. Fujita missed the bogey and found himself 1 stroke back on the 13^th tee. Kodama & Beston was tied for the lead at 1-under. On the 13^th hole, Beston and Fujita gave another stroke to Kodama when they both bogied the hole. There was no blood on 14 as all pared the hole. However, on 15, Kodama & Beston gave a stroke back to Fujita after they both bogied the hole while Fujita made par. On the 16^th tee Kodama even, Fujita & Beston 1-over. On 16, Kodama & Beston made par and Fujita bogied, leaving 16, Kodama even, Beston 1-over and Fujita 2-over. After crushing drives on the 17^th (Par 5) from as far back as it plays, Kodama had about 135 yards to the green and Beston about 130 yards to the green for their second shots! Both put it in the green side bunker and hit their third shots close, Beston to about 6’ and Kodama to about 3’. Beston drained his tweeter and Kodama lipped out. So, we head to the final hole the par 4 18^th (tournament #72) with both UH Manoa Team mates tied at even-par for the tournament. Kodama to putt first rolled his 20’ down hill left to right tweeter right in the jar, all Beston could do was shake his head. Beston putting from about 5’ closer had a down hiller relatively straight to tie but just missed. And that my friends is how Matt Kodama won the tournament. I’d like to thank Jay Hinazumi, tournament director, Corinne & Masa Toyama, Sue Asao, Michele Lunasco and David & Amy Kim, for all their help. David Ishii and the rest of the staff at Pearl Country Club for the support and the players too. Be sure to watch 808Golf TV on OC16, March 27 at 8:00PM proudly presented by the Turtle Bay Resort and brought to you by Alpine Industries to catch the 2004 Hawaii State Amateur Stroke-Play Championship TV show; eagles, chip in’s, interviews, secret word to possibly win great prizes from Titleist, Ben Hogan, Precept, Pearl Country Club and Divix, product knowledge, golf tip and more…