2.12.06-- The final three holes at Pearl Country Club have often deciding the winner of the Hawaii Pearl Open. The 2006 edition of the venerable tournament again proved to be a nail biter as second round leader Andy Barnes birdied the par-5 17th hole to pull within one stroke of Japan’s Tomohiro Maruyama. Barnes, from Arizona, bogeyed the final hole, however, to drop back into a tie for second with Don Berry at 13-under-par 213. Berry, from Minnesota, shot a final round 4-under 68.

Earlier in the round, the 48-year-old Maruyama had charged from two strokes back to take the lead from Barnes at 15-under-par. Maruyama, a member of the Japan professional tour, says that he has played in the Pearl Open “more than 10 times.” His best finish previous to this year was a second place finish in 1999.

Barnes was gracious in defeat, “I didn’t feel like I lost the tournament. I played pretty well under the conditions.” From the ninth hole, Barnes said that Maruyama’s putter heated up. “Everything he hit looked like it was going in,” he said.

Maruyama, on the other hand, said that his calm and commanding appearance masked a bad case of the jitters. “My legs were shaking,” he said through an interpreter.

Yuki Ito, an 18-year-old high school student from Japan, repeated as low amateur, 67-69-75—211. Ito’s 5-under finish edged out Hawaii amateur Tadd Fujikawa (73-67-72—212) by a single stroke.

Hawaii’s David Ishii, who gave local fans a thrill by shooting a sparkling 7-under 65 on Saturday, shot 70 on Sunday to finish in a tie for fourth place at 10-under par with Joseph Summerhays of Utah. Click here to see the final full field hole-by-hole scores and comprehensive tournament details.

808Golf.com would like to thank Pearl Country Club's David Ishii and the rest of the crew for all the support/help. Mark Kawashima, Kuni Wakida, Arnold & Elo Hiura, Corrine Toyama & Sue Asao for all their help and patience inputting the data everyday.

FYI, 28th HPO photos posted for day 1, 2 & 3, click here to see.