The first of four Hawai'i local qualifiers for the U.S. Open tees off at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Turtle Bay Resort's Fazio Course. The top player in the field of 26 advances to one of 16 sectional qualifiers.

There are approximately 100 local qualifiers in the U.S. over the next two weeks, including those on Maui (Royal Ka'anapali May 16), Kaua'i (Wailua May 23) and the Big Island (Waikoloa Kings' May 25). The Maui sectional is Hawai'i's largest with 28 players, including three from the Mainland. One player from each Hawai'i site advances to sectionals.

The O'ahu field includes Turtle Bay Fazio head pro Kevin Carll, Kamehameha junior Alika Bell, who recently won the Amatour Hawai'i Turtle Bay Challenge and his second ILH championship, and 'Iolani freshman Lorens Chan, the State Amateur Stroke Play champion who played in this year's Sony Open in Hawai'i.

Five golfers who live on the Mainland will be at Turtle Bay, including Punahou graduate Jim Seki, who had five Top-15 finishes on the Canadian Tour last year. The 2002 Stanford graduate won the 1998 state high school championship and 2002 Pac-10 title.

Some 90 golfers advance from sectional qualifiers to the U.S. Open , June 18 to 21 at Bethpage State Park (Black) in Farmington, N.Y.

HICKAM INVITATIONAL

BRANDAN KOP IN MAMALA BAY FIELD

Defending champion Alex Ching is finishing off his freshman year in San Diego and Casey Watabu, Tadd Fujikawa and a few other former Hickam Invitational champions have turned pro. But Brandan Kop, still one of the state's finest amateurs as he approaches 50, is part of a diverse Championship Flight at Mamala Bay this weekend.

Hickam begins tomorrow, with players teeing off from 6:40 a.m. each day. The leaders are expected to go out around 8 a.m. Sunday.

Kop, a four-time Manoa Cup champion, won the last of his Hickam titles in 2004. Fujikawa captured the championship the next year, at age 14. Former Amatour champion Craig Uyehara won in 2006 and Watabu in 2007 — a year after capturing the U.S. Public Links title.

Last year, Ching shot 9-under on the weekend to beat 13-year-old Lorens Chan by a shot and Joey Sakaue by two. Kop, inducted into the Hawai'i Golf Hall of Fame a week earlier, finished fourth with Michael Kawate.

Sakaue and Kawate are back this year, along with Matthew Ma, Donny Hopoi, Alex Chu, Christian Akau and Henry Park. Hickam also has A, B, Senior and Super Senior flights.

PUBLIC LINKS

DEADLINE FOR WOMEN'S QUALIFIERS

Wednesday is the entry deadline for Hawai'i's two U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links qualifiers. The first will be at Wailua, on Kaua'i, May 24 and the second at Kapalua's Plantation Course on Maui, May 31.

Entries are open to amateur female golfers who, since Jan. 1 of this year, have been public course players (do not hold privileges at a course that does not extend playing privileges to the general public) and have a Handicap Index not exceeding 18.4.

The 33rd Women's Publinx is June 22 to 27 at Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, Mass. Rainbow Wahine coach Lori Castillo, a Kaiser High graduate, won the national championship in 1979 and '80. Punahou graduate Michelle Wie won it in 2003, at age 13, and holds the records for youngest competitor and youngest champion.

For information and to download an application, visit http://www.USGA.org, or contact the Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association at 532-0559 or hsjgaoffice@gmail.com.

MILITARY DISCOUNTS

'FAIRWAY FURLOUGHS' AT KAUA'I LAGOONS

Kaua'i Lagoons Golf Club is one of 26 Marriott golf courses participating in the "Fairway Furloughs" Military Golf Program, designed to honor the nation's Armed Forces. The new program provides active, reserve and retired military personnel with special rates.

Discounted green fees and carts range from $29 to $69. The program is available after 3 p.m. any day at participating courses. Tee times can be made up to three days in advance. A valid military ID card must be presented.

Info: http://www.marriottgolf.com.