06 Jun Final Results of the Kaanapali Pro-Pro Championship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kua & McCauley Take Home Win after a 4-hole Playoff with Hayashi & Braxton in the 2013 Kaanapali Pro-Pro Championship Sponsored by GPSi

Lahaina, HI – After four playoff holes, TJ Kua and Shawn McCauley take home the title and $3000 in the 2013 Kaanapali Pro-Pro Championship sponsored by GPSi. Firing an impressive -7 today (64), Kua and McCauley worked their way into a playoff with Maui’s David Braxton and Kyle Hayashi, who had a share of the lead after round one yesterday.

“I have to say, we didn’t play all that well today actually and got off to a bad start – we just sort of ‘ham-and-egged’ it though and were able to cover each other when one of us was out of a hole,” commented Shawn McCauley. He continued, “The wind was tricky this weekend – kind of crazy at times so it was hard to hit my distances consistently.” With the lowest round of the tournament today and a combined seven birdies and no bogies, they must have been doing something right.

Two teams would make par on the first three playoff holes and head to the par 3, 17th hole. Kua and McCauley were first on the tee where Kua hit his shot to within 20 feet (right) of the pin. McCauley would follow and left his shot just short left in the rough. Braxton was next and as the wind kicked up, the ball fell short left and into the water hazard. Hayashi then hit his tee shot a little fat and it too fell short into the water. McCauley would chip up and tap in for par and secure the win for he and Kua.

Braxton and Hayashi came in second last year to Pro-Pro Championship veterans, Larry Stubblefield and Andrew Feldman and fell victim to second place again, but not after putting up a good fight on the four playoff holes. Braxton almost holed out on the first playoff hole from the fringe on #18 and Hayashi, who was the only one in the fairway on #1 hole (second playoff hole) would go for the green from about 260 yards but unfortunately found the water hazard just short of the right side of the green (the dreaded Kaanapali lagoon that snakes along #1 and #18).

Kyle Hayashi commented on the weekend, “Our goal today was to make birdies when we could (and we eagled two par 5’s this weekend) and then just keep making pars because we knew people were going to be coming after us.” He continued, “I’m lucky enough to hit the ball pretty long so it allows me to be aggressive at the pin and I have a really great playing partner – Braxton keeps me under control and he’s got a great short game so I knew he’d always be good around the greens.” Hayashi finished with, “The (Royal) Kaanapali is a great course – a lot of fun – and the greens were fantastic, you couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

McCauley and Kua won their first tournament together last year in the Nike 4-ball Championship, just after Kua turned pro after completing his college golf career at UH. Kua noted, “This course is difficult for me in the wind because it’s a lot of right to left wind and I struggled at times (Kua is a lefty).” McCauley added, “The course conditions were great though – course played really great this weekend.”

Click here for list of full results.

ABOUT KAANAPALI GOLF COURSES:
The Royal Kaanapali Course, a Robert Trent Jones Senior design, opened in 1962 and has tested the skills of golf professionals and amateurs alike. A Par 71 stretching 6700 yards, the Royal Course combines wide fairways and undulating greens, making it both distinctive and demanding. Home of the Champions Tour Kaanapali Classic for
14 years, the Royal Kaanapali Course also hosted Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf, the Canada Cup and LPGA Kemper Open, donning such golfing greats as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Jan Stephenson and Betsey King.

The Kaanapali Kai Course is a Par 70, 6,400-yard course and boasts an array of strategically placed bunkers, contoured fairways, and re-shaped and resurfaced greens. This course, host of Golf Channel’s #1 series Big Break Kaanapali, is a challenge to play and places a premium on strategy off the tee, accuracy with approach shots, and a deft touch around the greens.

In 2005-2007, Kaanapali Golf Courses invested over $13 million in renovations and infrastructure. Golf course architect, Robin Nelson, was brought in to oversee the rework of the Kaanapali Kai Course and enhancements to the championship Royal Kaanapali Course. Ka’anapali recently celebrated 50 years (1962-2012) and was host of
the Champions Tour SKIN GAME January 2008-2011.

For more information about Kaanapali Golf Courses visit www.kaanapaligolfcourses.com or call (808) 661-3691. Twitter @KaanapaliResort and www.facebook.com/kaanapaligolf

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