Former University of Hawai'i golfer and 2004 Manoa Cup champion Ryan Perez can't wait to turn pro but he doesn't mind putting his dreams on hold to play in the Governor's Cup. Why? Because it opens up an opportunity to get an exemption into the Sony Open in Hawai'i.

That's how highly prized the event — formally known as the John A. Burns Challenge Cup — is to local amateurs, who strive to earn a spot on the 12-man team in the two-day competition against the Aloha Section PGA professionals. The 12 amateurs then play off for one spot in the PGA Tour event at Waialae Country Club.

"One chance in 12, you can't beat that kind of odds" said Perez, who led all amateurs in the final point standings this year with a 1,590 total, thanks to qualifying for the U.S Men's Amateur Public Links championship in Norman, Okla., a wire-to-wire victory in the Army Invitational, two Amatour Hawai'i victories and six top-10 finishes.

Lorens Chan finished second with 1,451 points, followed by TJ Kua, Bradley Shigezawa and Brandan Kop, who will be playing in his 29th Governor's Cup. Rounding out the top 12 on the point list are Mike Kawate, David Saka, Jonathan Ota, Matthew Ma, Nainoa Calip, Scott Ichimura and Christian Akau.

"We'll have a strong team," said amateur captain Phil Anamizu, who believes all 12 will play in the 37th Governor's Cup at the Mid-Pacific Country Club on Nov. 23-24. At those 12-1 odds of playing in the Sony Open, who'd turn down the opportunity?

Anamizu hopes to secure Waialae Country Club for the amateur qualifying on Dec. 21, the Monday after the Turtle Bay Hawai'i State Open.

No one appreciates the importance of the Governor's Cup more than Kop, who realizes that it opens up a rare opportunity for an amateur to play in a PGA Tour event.

"Our amateurs are really lucky because we still have a spot in the Sony Open, thanks to Sony and the Friends of Hawai'i Charity," he said. "It's the biggest thing for the amateurs. It's good for golf in Hawai'i. All the junior golfers want to make the team. It increases the competition and everybody gets better that way."

Exhibit A? Tadd Fujikawa using the 2006 Governor's Cup amateur playoff prize as a springboard to his amazing showing in the Sony Open a month later when he became the youngest player in 50 years to make the cut in a PGA Tour event.

Even Doug Ferguson, Associated Press golf writer, came away impressed with the concept of giving an amateur one of the four unrestricted sponsor's exemptions to a PGA event.

"That's pretty cool. More tournaments should do that," said Geoff Ogilvy in Ferguson's story following this year's Sony Open that gave the Governor's Cup national publicity.

Perez, 23, hopes to get a chance to play in the Sony Open and also use it to launch a pro career.

"I'm waiting to turn pro until after the Sony Open," he said about delaying his future plans because he likes the 12-1 odds of getting an exemption. But just playing in the Governor's Cup is a treat. "It's so much fun. You go out with 11 buddies and try to beat the pros. It's a fun tournament, but it's still competitive. You want to win."

Still, making the Governor's Cup team is a reward for a successful year and Perez had quite a year.

"This year has just been awesome because it's my last year as an amateur. I think the highlight was making it to the Publinx, which was the first USGA event I ever qualified for and it was in my last year as an amateur. Very special; quite an experience making the match play even though, unfortunately, I lost in the first round."

Perez felt his game improved working with pro Matt Pakkala. "We decided to put more emphasis on the short game and let the long game just come. Anybody can hit it (long) but to get it up and down is what takes you to the next level. That's been the difference," he said.

"Hopefully I'll get to the Sony, that'll be awesome. Get my name out there," said Perez, who will start looking for sponsors when he turns pro. "I will stick around to play as a pro for Pearl Open, Hilo Invitational and Mid-Pac Open. Then try to get sponsor money to go to the Mainland and play on a mini-tour somewhere. But plans are still all up in the air."

While you won't find amateurs relinquishing a chance to play in the Governor's Cup, it's not the same for the pros. Ron Castillo Jr., who takes over for his father as team captain this year, will probably be hard pressed to get all of the top 12 pros on the points list.

This year's top point-getter, Kevin Hayashi, who's in the running for his seventh Aloha Section PGA player-of-the-year award with two more events remaining, will again be skipping the Governor's Cup.

"I would play but it's hard for me financially. I have to work, I don't have a salary," said Hayashi, a teaching pro at Hilo Municipal.

The Aloha Section PGA is providing a stipend for its pros for the first time this year. But it's hardly enough to defray expenses, especially for those pros from the Neighbor Islands.

Bill Kwon can be reached at billkwonrhs@aol.com