Congratulations to Matt Kodama the 2005 Hawaii State Amateur Stroke-Play Champion!

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

2.13.2005- Today the weather was good a bit cool though not how 23-year-old Matt Kodama played the first 7 holes in today's final round, he was hot. Kodama birdied #1, #5 & #7 and at that point was in cruise control (2-under par for the tournament) with a 7-shot lead over his closest competitor Toru Nakajima who was at 5-over par for the tournament. I thought to myself thereafter Matt is such a solid player the rest of the way is just a walk in the park for him. Then on the par 4 8th hole Kodama hit his tee shot left which hit a coconut tree and came to rest just feet from going out of bounds. From about 180 yards he advanced to just in front of the green for his second shot then chipped to about 4 feet above the pin which was cut on the front left for his third shot. Nakajima pared the hole and Kodama was left with a slick down hill curler in which he missed and went on to three putt the hole for a double bogey 6. I then refocused my thoughts and said to myself, "this crazy game... anything can happen, you'll never know". Boy it was surely shaping up to be one of those down the stretch, thru 67 holes Kodama was leading by the slimmest of margins over Nakajima. Basically it was closer than the final score reflects and I have posted the final round leader board below for Kodama, Nakajima, Asao & Tsukada so you may see for your self. In second place, Toru Nakajima 71--292, 4-over par and rounding out the top three two golfers; Kellen-Floyd Asao 73--295 & Yosuke Tsukada 72--295, 7-over par respectively. I'd like to say mahalo to Jay Hinazumi tournament director, Corinne Toyama for helping me input all the online daily scores & stats, Pearl Country Club, players and fans, Mahalo, Mahalo, Mahalo!