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Hattori, Sakamoto claim Barbers Point titles [The Honolulu Star-Advertiser](Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 14--Richard Hattori and Nicole Sakamoto plan to turn pro in the very near future. Not near enough for all the other golfers at this year's Barbers Point Invitational. Hattori won his second title in as many weeks, blitzing the field by 14 strokes Saturday. The recent high school graduate shot three rounds in the 60s, closing with a 68 for a total of 13-under-par 203. No one else finished in red numbers. There were only three other rounds in the 60s, all week. Hattori was shockingly efficient on a Barbers Point Course designed to inspire inefficiency and defend the pin from assault at any angle. Soft approach shots barrel through the hard greens. Chipping to holes sitting at the top of a slippery slope are often a yip-inducing lesson in futility. Sakamoto was not quite as efficient, but her victory was even more overwhelming. A final-round 77, featuring a pair of birdies and double bogeys, gave her a 17-stroke win in Barbers Point's inaugural ladies flight. The four women in the flight played from the same tees -- stretched to 6,737 yards -- as the men, which surprised Sakamoto. She played her practice round from the middle tees. That caused some problems Thursday, but after a second-round 71 she took a 10-stroke advantage into the final round. She cruised home -- first-round leader Sydney Maluenda took second at 87--247 -- in her first competition since May's Jennie K. Invitational. Sakamoto did not win that Hawaii women's major, but has captured six of the last eight she played, along with graduating from James Madison a year ago. For the past year, she has worked at Olomana Golf Links and worked hard on her game -- especially her short shots after seeing what Inbee Park has accomplished on the LPGA Tour recently "mostly with her putter." Sakamoto will try to capture her third Hawaii State Women's Match Play title in a few days, then attempt to four-peat at stroke play before heading to the first stage of LPGA Qualifying at the end of August. Hattori reached the second stage of qualifying for the Japan Golf Tour last year, as a 16-year-old amateur. He plans to return and his game appears ready. Hattori earned the amateur slot at this year's Sony Open in Hawaii, reached the Manoa Cup final last month and won the Prince Invitational last weekend by a shot over professional TJ Kua. He stood alone at Barbers Point. "He was playing a different course," Hawaii Golf Hall of Famer Brandan Kop said. "He drives it so far and so straight and his wedge is biting (the greens). If you hit even a 9-iron into these greens you can't get it to stop. It's got to be sand wedge." Hattori acknowledged most of his approach shots came with a wedge in his hand, then shrugged that he was "just lucky." "I was just on my game," Hattori said. "I was hitting good, chipping really good and making a lot of putts today." He started the final round with a nine-shot advantage and focused on keeping the ball in front of the pin. Hattori made the turn in 1 under and had absolutely no stress on the back nine, where he had four birdies. He is sweet on his short game as he counts down to a pro career. "I'm focusing on my putting a lot," Hattori said. "And focusing on where not to miss and where you can miss. That's the important stuff. Just try not to make big numbers." Brent Grant (68) and Trey Kidd (71) tied for second at 217. Corey Kozuma (71--218) took fourth and Jared Sawada -- the guy who beat Hattori for the Manoa Cup -- was another shot back after a 69. Rocky Reed closed with a 73 to win the A flight by five shots with a three-day total of 232. Michael Wolf (82--242) won the B Flight by two. ___ (c)2013 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |