East Oahu Sun: the community newspaper for east oahu since 1987



			the community newspaper for east oahu since 1987








		Dean Wilson, Alex Ching and Michelle Wie
	Sony Open Showcases East Oahu Golf Talent Sun Special Feature Archived November 2007 article Five prestigious golf professionals - Jerry Kelly, Davis Love III, Parker McLachlin (Punahou 2002), Castle High alum Dean Wilson, and Hawaii Kai resident Michelle Wie (Punahou 2007) - teamed with highly talented local Hawaii State Junior golfers, including East Oahu resident, Alex Ching and Kaimuki High School's Chan Kim for the inaugural King Auto Group PRO-JUNIOR Skills Challenge at the 2007 Sony Open. Ching and Kim could earn the right to repeat and compete for the enthusiastic fans and TV cameras in 2008! Charlie King, President of King Auto Group, was motivated to sponsor the PRO-JUNIOR Skills Challenge at the Sony Open because of the impact it has as an incentive for Hawaii junior golfers. "What we see," King said, "is that it sparks interest in the juniors wanting to play in the state tournaments. At these tournaments they gain the points to qualify to play at Waialae with the pros in this event." KHNL News 8 anchor, Howard Dashefsky and NBC and Golf Channel golf analyst, Mark Rolfing provided play-by-play coverage of all the action as it was captured on Sony's Jumbotron at 18 green for an enthusiastic gallery of community youth and golf enthusiasts. Four skills competitions, a short-iron shot, a bunker shot, a long putt and a trouble shot pit the pro-junior teams in a points race for the win. In the inaugural event, a 100-yard tiebreaker approach shot topped off the competition. It was East Oahu resident Alex Ching (Punahou 2008) who put his shot just 9 feet, 2 inches from the flagstick in the tiebreaker. With that shot, Ching and pro partner, Michelle Wie, triumphed against PGA TOUR pro Dean Wilson and Kauai junior, Miki Ueoka, to win top honors! Hawaii State Junior Golf Association was awarded a $10,000 donation by King Auto Group, and the participating pros also donated their winnings for an additional $10,000 to the junior golf organization. The HSJGA assists junior golfers ages 7-18 to develop skills and the ability to compete with peers, allowing them to progress at their own rate, preserve golf traditions and the integrity of the game. More exciting action is scheduled for the 2008 King Auto Group PRO-JUNIOR Skills Challenge on Tuesday, January 8 at Waialae's 18 green at 3 PM. Admission is free. Pro and junior golf participants for 2008 will be named mid-December. 2007 King Auto Group PRO-JUNIOR Skills Challenge Players Pro Junior: Golf Partner: Michelle Wie Alex Ching, Oahu Jerry Kelly Chan Kim, Oahu Davis Love III Sean Maekawa, Honokaa Parker McLachlin Elyse Okada, Maui Dean Wilson Miki Ueoka, Kauai

King Auto Group makes Hawaii State Junior Golf Association (HSJGA) the biggest winner. Left to right: Greg Nichols representing HSJGA, Title Sponsor, Charlie King, King Auto Group, Media Sponsor, John Fink, KHNL, with golf pros, Parker McLachlin, Michelle Wie, Dean Wilson, Jerry Kelly and Friends of Hawaii Charities president, Tony Guerrero, Jr.