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HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i sophomore #T.J. Kua# carded a one-under 69 in the first round of the PGA's Sony Open in Hawaii, Thursday at Wai'alae Country Club. Playing as an amateur, Kua posted five birdies and four bogeys in windy conditions.
Kua is four strokes behind a group of six first round leaders and is currently in a tie for 32nd along with notable PGA veterans Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, and Ratief Goosen. Among the leaders are defending champion Zach Johnson and Davis Love III, who shot 65.
Beginning on hole No. 1, Kua parred his opening two holes – including a chip-in on No. 2 – before missing a short putt on the third hole for bogey. He rebounded with a 24-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole to get back to even and recorded three straight pars at holes 5-7.
On No. 8, his approach found the green-side bunker and he missed the par putt. Much like his first bogey, he responded on No. 9 – the only par 5 on the front – with a 312-yard drive and his approach shot left him with a 30-foot eagle putt. He two-putted for birdie and an even-par 35 on the front nine.
Kua parred his opening hole on the back before missing a short par putt on No. 11. After a par on the 12th, he got back to even with another chip-in for birdie at No. 13. However, he gave it right back on the next hole with a three-putt bogey.
Kua parred No. 15 before sinking a 12-foot birdie putt on the next hole after hitting his drive in the fairway bunker. On No. 17, he got up and down from the right rough setting up a dramatic finishing hole. After putting his drive in the fairway bunker on the par 5 18th, he hit his next shot nearly 220 yards just short of the green and his chip left him with a tap-in birdie. For the backside, Kua shot one-under 34.
Over his round, Kua averaged 311.5 yards on his drives and tied for sixth among the 144-player field with just 26 putts.
Kua will tee off his second round on Friday at 8:50 a.m., on the 10th tee along with playing partners Martin Flores (66) and Josh Teater (71).
The Lihue, Kaua'i native is the first UH golfer to compete in the event since Ryan Koshi played in the 1998 Hawaiian Open. Kua earned a spot in the Sony Open after winning the Amateur Governor's Cup Qualifying in December at the same Wai'alae Country Club course.
Kua is one of six golfers from Hawai'i in the 2010 Sony Open field along with Dean Wilson, Tadd Fujikawa, Parker McLachlin Nick Mason, and former UH golfer Kevin Hayashi.
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