What Parker McLachlin did wasn't par for the course.

And, no, we're not talking about yesterday's 9-over 81 in the opening round of the Memorial.

What the 30-year-old PGA Tour performer has done is charitably reach into his heart and wallet, personally underwriting college scholarships for the 12-member 2009 Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Foundation Hall of Honor class.

Each of the inductees enshrined at an HHSAA Foundation Awards Dinner Sunday will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

For 26 years this was provided by a series of community-minded businesses, including your favorite newspaper. But in these austere times, organizers were all but conceding that this year's class would have to be the first that went without. Oh, they would still be feted at a grand banquet and given some mementos, but probably no scholarships.

"I'd almost given up," said Keith Amemiya, executive director of the HHSAA.

But Beth McLachlin, who is on the selection committee, explained the group's plight to her son. Without hesitation — or prodding — the 1996 state boys golf champion from Punahou School not only jumped in to help but offered to round up others for a fundraising tournament for the future.

Surprising in this day and age — though perhaps not if you know McLachlin — is that he didn't call a press conference around it. As of yesterday, there was no press release, no mention on his Web site or blog. He made just a brief, two paragraph, reference in the middle of the "postcard" item he writes for The Advertiser.

McLachlin made a good living on the course last year after working his way up through the various mini tours but has hardly been rolling in the dough by PGA standards. Which is why you have to respect his commitment to make this more than a one-shot deal.

Of the 312 previous hall honorees, McLachlin is among the few to have given back. It is a gift that should resonate among those — especially in the various pro ranks — with the means to follow. Hopefully, it will serve as a call to others to become involved in high school sports either through the HHSAA or their alma maters. For there is no time when their aid is more needed.

McLachlin's stay at the Memorial this week might not turn out as he would like. But with his generosity of spirit, he will be a real winner in the minds of a lot of people here.