38th Annual Hamai Women’s Golf Tourney Benefits Boy Scouts
Bobbi Kokx & Jeannine Carr, tournament winners. Courtesy photo.
By Sonia Isotov
Bobbie Kokx and Jeannine Car were the big winners at the 38th Annual Lester Hamai Memorial Women’s Golf Tournament, one of the oldest golf tournaments on the island, held October 8th at the Maui Country Club.
Kokx was the Overall Low Gross winner with a score of 74 and Jeannine Carr’s 66 net score won her the title for Overall Lowest Net.
Since its inception in 1973 the Lester Hamai Memorial tournament has donated over $75,000 to the Maui Boy Scouts organization. Boy Scout Executive Robert Nakagawa was on hand to receive a check from the ladies for $2,200 this year.
Wayne Miyake of Servco Pacific Foundation (at left) and Glenn Hamai (far right) present Boy Scout Executive Robert Nakagawa with tournament proceeds.
The tournament is hosted by the Maui Country Club every year and is open to women from golf clubs throughout Maui. Success of the tournament has been historically tied in no small part to its organizer and 38-year Chairwoman, Dot Tam Ho and generous sponsorship by Hamai Appliance, Panasonic Hawaii, and this year, Servco Pacific Foundation.
“Maui Country Club is honored to be the home of this popular tournament which has fostered women’s golf on Maui for 38 years, thanks to Club member Dot Tam Ho and community sponsors Hamai Appliance and Servco Pacific,” Luana Pa`ahana, membership and marketing coordinator for the Maui County Club.
As both Dot Tam Ho and Lester Hamai’s children were active in Boy Scouts, the beneficiary organization was a natural. Servco Pacific Foundation is a supplier to Hamai and was happy to join as a sponsor partner this year, and has donated an additional $300 to the Boy Scouts of Maui to make the gift total this year $2,500.
Dot Tam Ho expressed her gratitude to Wayne Miyake of Servco Pacific and Glenn Hamai of Hamai Appliance for “…their generosity, which allowed us to give every participant a prize. Everyone went home with a gift in this tournament.” This year, over $3,000 in prizes were awarded to winners among the 60 participants. Top prizes included 32” LG HD televisions, appliances by Kitchen Aid, Panasonic, and GE; Paula Dean cookware, cutlery, electronics, and rounds of golf.
Pa`ahana recalls the story of the inception of the tournament and how after many years as the Pro Shop manager at Maui Country Club, Tam Ho retired and became a member. One day, Tam Ho recalled to her that Lester Hamai was at Maui Country Club when Tam Ho was playing and they got into a conversation about how ladies golf was growing in popularity and that there were not many opportunities for lady golfers to compete on Maui. Hamai suggested to Tam Ho that if she would run the tournament, he would sponsor it and the tournament idea was born. Originally, Panasonic Hawaii came in as a sponsor with Hamai Appliance and the inaugural event took place in July 1974 as the Panasonic Golf Tournament for Women.
Pa’ahana noted that Panasonic closed its Hawaii operation last year, and there was a question as to whether or not the tournament would continue. However, because of the committed to the event and to the support it provided to the Boy Scouts over the years, Tam Ho and Hamai were able to find an additional sponsor in Servco.
Full Tournament Results
Overall Low Gross Bobbi Kokx, 74 Gross
Overall Low Net Jeannine Carr, 66 Net
A Flight: B Flight C Flight
Low Gross Desiree Ting Mayumi Roggow Ann Nakagawa
1st Low Net Linda Damaso Terri Pike Rhonda Pang
2nd Net Lynn Rattoy Molly Hoffman Sandy Muller
3rd Net Janet Simpson Lynne Peleholani Barbara Roark
4th Net Dot Tam Ho Myriam Takamatsu Sandy Hill
5th Net Jan Teruya Gwen Kauhaapo Toni Abreu
6th Net Ernette Asato Kelly Tobita June Werner
7th Net Rachael Dornall Kathy Oura Jackie Kaanana
8th Net n/a Ann Bradley Shelley Apana
Closest to the Pin on #16: Jane Yonamine
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