Kona Girls to represent Hawaii in the Regional Drive Chip and Putt Competition in Arizona

Three Kailua-Kona girls, Mie Funakoshi (9), Milo Fudolig (6) and Dallin Schutter (9) will be representing Hawaii on Sept. 24 at the Regional Drive Chip and Putt Competition at Desert Mountain Outlaw Golf Course in Scottsdale, Ariz. The girls are competing in two separate age divisions — assigned to the group according to the age they will be by April 2024. Mie and Milo are in the 7-9 division and Dallin is in the 10-11 group.

The event is hosted by the PGA of America, USGA and Masters Tournament. The girls advanced through the local qualifier in June at the Four Seasons Hualalai, followed by the Sub Regional Qualifier in July at Kapolei Golf Course. At Kapolei, for the 7-9 division, Funakoshi placed No. 1 overall and first in the chipping portion. Fudolig placed first in the putt portion and second overall. In the 10-11 division, Schutter placed first in the putt portion and second overall. Next stop is the Desert Mountain Outlaw Course in Scottsdale, Arizona, where first place would earn one of them a spot at the National Championship in April at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. The National Final will take place the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and aired on the Golf Channel or NBC.

Funakoshi and Fudolig both belong to the Kona Country Club Junior Golf program which will be hosting a fundraising event at Kona Country Club on September 10 for the Junior Golf program, and a portion of the proceeds will go toward helping the girls get to Arizona.

Anyone interested in playing, donating or sponsoring this event can find more information or pick up an entry/sponsorship form at Kona Country Club in Keahou and Big Island Golf Shop in Kona.