Kua Shines For UH In Return Home

TJ Kua hits an approach shot at Puakea

TJ Kua of Kaua’i enjoyed a quick trip home last week, finishing third in the Kaua’i Collegiate Golf Invitational at Puakea Golf Course. Competing for UH-Manoa, Kua shot rounds of 71-70-71 on the par-72 course. He was the top UH scorer.

Despite swirling winds, Gunner Wiebe of University of San Diego took individual honors with rounds of 71-66-71.

Wiebe and his Torero team-mates took team honors for the third straight year with a cumulative total of 22 under par. Also playing for USD was Alex Ching, a Punahou grad.

British Columbia University finished second, 21 strokes behind, and Kua and the UH Black team finished third, another 13 strokes back.

As part of this event, UH and Puakea teamed up for a “college-am” on Saturday – two collegians and two amateurs.

“It is a great chance for our residents to be able to play with some of the best college players in the world,” said Dave Werner, Puakea general manager. “It is really quite an experience for them.”

Afterward, Werner presented UH coach Ronn Miyashiro a check for $5,000 for the UH golf team and commented, “On behalf of Grove Farm and Puakea Golf Course, we’d like to donate this back to the UH team.”

At the end of the competition, Miyashiro addressed the teams: “We’d like to thank Puakea for bringing an international collegiate invitation event to the island of Kaua’i.

“We love to host this event here at Puakea, and we thank all the teams for making the trip –

and we look forward to next year!”