2.11.07-- You couldn’t have scripted a more exciting final round, as crowd favorite tenacious Tadd Fujikawa overcame a three-shot deficit to win the 29th Hawaii Pearl Open by one shot with a birdie on the 54th and final hole.

The 16-year-old Fujikawa started the day in fourth place, trailing three professionals from Japan, but managed to forge ahead by the midway point of the final round with his steady play. Meanwhile, the leaders began to struggle. Second round leader Junpei Takayama fell from 10-under to 3-under par. Takashi Oguro went from 8-under to 5-under and Hirotaro Naito dropped one stroke from 8-under to 7-under.

The breezy back nine at the Pearl Country Club set the stage for a toe-to-toe duel between Fujikawa and four-time Hawaii Pearl Open champion, Gregory Meyer. Meyer, who started the day at 5-under-par, turned in a strong 5-under 67 to finish at 10-under-par to vie for the lead.

Fujikawa birdied 16 to go to 10-under, carded a disappointing par on the par 5 17th after reaching the green in two only to three-putt from about 9' and needed a birdie on the final hole (par 4 18th) to win. As a large gallery and the news media waited and watched, Fujikawa coolly snuggled his approach shot to inside a foot at a knarly pin cut on the back right portion of the green (those of you who play Pearl know, those who didn't since they redesigned the 18th green need to go out and play a round to really appreciate Tadd's shot). Anything long from where Fujikawa was playing his approach shot would most likely roll off the back of the green, anything short would have not made it up the hill and definitely rolled back down to the lower portion of the green. The bottom line is that Tadd had to hit a perfect shot for the win. All that was left to seal the 29th Hawaii Pearl Open crown was a tap in birdie... center cut! Tadd Fujikawa became the second amateur to win the Hawaii Pearl Open (Damien Jamila did it back in 1992) and the youngest to ever win the title, congratulations Tadd! 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 (Director of Golf), Kevin Kashiwai (Head pro) and the rest of the crew for all their support/help. Also mahalo to Arnold & Elo Hiura (Media Coordinators), Corrine Toyama & Sue Asao for all their help inputting the daily hole by hole scores.

FYI, 29th HPO photos posted for Qualifying, Rounds 1, 2 & 3, click here to see.