Jarett Hamamoto will defend his title at the 10th annual Hilo Invitational this weekend at Hilo Muni. The Pro-Am begins tomorrow at 11 a.m., with the first round teeing off from 7 a.m. Saturday and the final round at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Hamamoto, of Hilo, beat his cousin, Kevin Hayashi, by one shot for last year's championship. Hamamoto was in the midst of his senior year at the University of Hawai'i and turned pro after his eligibility ended. He was the third straight amateur to win, after Kellen-Floyd Asao and Nick Mason.

Pros won the first six Hilo Invitationals, beginning with David Ishii in 1998 and Hayashi in 1999. Dean Wilson is the only golfer to successfully defend a title, capturing the 2001 and 2002 tournaments.

This year's field also includes most of the UH-Hilo team.

HPLGA 4-BALL

FUJIKAWA RETURNING TO DEFEND HIS HALF OF TITLE

Tadd Fujikawa will begin defense of half a championship Saturday, in the final weekend of the HPLGA 4-Ball event at Ted Makalena Municipal.

The A and B flights began last week and will conclude Saturday and Sunday. The smaller Championship flight starts at 7 a.m. Saturday and concludes Sunday.

Fujikawa won this tournament last year with partner Chan Kim, the state high school champion. Fujikawa is playing this year with Adrian Doo, another junior. They go out first Saturday. The Championship flight starts at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Mid-Pacific coach Garret Hayashi — Fujikawa's caddie when he made the cut at the Sony Open in Hawai'i — is also playing the 4-Ball, with Iolani seventh-grader Lorens Chan. Craig Uyehara, the 2006 Amatour champion, is teamed with Alvin Okada.