STUART APPLEBY WINS 2005 MERCEDES CHAMPIONSHIPS

Stuart Appleby won his second-consecutive Mercedes Championships yesterday at Kapalua's Plantation Course, earning the $1.06 million first-place check ($5.3 million purse) as well as the keys to a 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS500 and the prestigious Tiffany trophy.

Appleby shot 74-64-66-67 for a 271 (21-under Par) total and a one-stroke margin over Jonathan Kaye and a two-stroke margin over Tiger Woods and Ernie Els in the PGA TOUR's season-opening, winners-only tournament. Moreover, Appleby is the first player to defend his title and repeat as champion since the tournament moved to Kapalua in 1999.

Vijay Singh, the world's number-one ranked player, started the day in the lead at 19-under Par. But he stumbled yesterday with a triple bogey on Hole 13 and finished tied for fifth at 18-under. Moreover, Appleby had to get past Ernie Els, Jonathan Kaye and Stewart Cink, who each faltered down the stretch, to take the sixth PGA TOUR victory of his career.

"I just had to run hard across the (finish) line and try to get my nose in front." said Appleby, 33, of Cohuna, Australia.

By his own admission, Appleby stumbled out of the gate in the first round with a 74. But he started making his move up the leader board in the second round with a 64.

"You could have put really long odds on me winning the tournament after round one," said Appleby, on his first-round play. "I got the game going straightaway on the second day. I played consistently. I hit the ball well. I rolled the ball well. I guess I got my rhythm going and that was critical."

In the final round, Appleby birdied the third and fifth holes before driving the green on the 398-yard, Par-4 sixth hole. The sixth hole usually plays into a stiff breeze. But yesterday, the wind was behind the players. Appleby's long drive led to a 12"-7' putt for Eagle that put him at the top of the leader board.

"I've never driven that green. But to be there and make the putt was great. That was really a bit of boost there because I just made birdie on the hole before," he said.

From that point on, he continued to focus on his game and ignored the play of the competition behind him.

"I knew there wasn't much going on behind. It was very quiet in the crowds," said Appleby, regarding not hearing any big cheers from the spectators on the holes behind him. "I was working my way into contention and I just had to focus on that."


SONY OPEN LAUNCHES 2005 PGA TOUR SEASON

The Sony Open in Hawaii 2005, January 10-16, the first full field PGA TOUR event of the year launches the PGA TOUR's wonderful Aloha Season of Golf. The Sony Open in Hawaii features over 140 internationally famed pros competing for the $864,000 victor's share of the overall $4,800,000 purse. The tournament played at the par-70, 7,060 yard Waialae Country Club golf course marks the 40th consecutive year that this ocean side golf venue has hosted the PGA TOUR pros in a worldwide televised tournament event.

Ernie Els, the internationally famed pro golfer from South Africa, created a historic moment in professional golf at the 2004 Sony Open with his second consecutive back-to-back victory at the Sony Open. He became the fourth player to win this Hawaii event for the second time and third back-to-back. Els garnered his second win with another multi-hole playoff when he defeated Texas native golfer, Harrison Frazar trying for his first PGA TOUR victory, on the third playoff hole. The congenial golf pro Els in two years earned $1,664,000 in the two Sony Open victories and brought his total winnings in Hawaii to over $3.6 million. His back-to-back victories certainly gave Hawaii spectators and the global television viewing audience moments to remember.

"The Big Easy" had to work hard for his 2004 Sony Open victory. Els did not win the 2004 Mercedes Championship again as its defending champion, but by winning the 2004 Sony Open in Hawaii tournament as back-to-back champion he became the first player since Tiger Woods to successfully defend a PGA TOUR title. Woods performed the feat last at the 2002 and 2003 WGC-American Express Championship. Adding to the Sony Open excitement was a young Hawaii golf phenom, 14-year-old Michelle Wie who played in a sponsor's exemption with the "big guys" barely missing the final 36-hole cut by one stroke while receiving tremendous accolades from the pros for her great game and talent.

Els savored not only the tightly fought victory but also the winner's check of $864,000. However, the biggest winners of the Sony Open in Hawaii will always be the charity beneficiaries who have received a total of over $4,000,000 in grants from the Friends of Hawaii Charities, the Sony Open in Hawaii host for the past six years. Under the direction of Friends president, Anthony R. Guerrero, Jr., vice-chairman of First Hawaiian Bank, and with the generous assistance of charity partner, The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc., the tournament has proven that golf can make a positive difference in the lives of many in Hawaii.


MASTERCARD CHAMPIONSHIP AT HUALALAI KICKS OFF CHAMPIONS TOUR SEASON

The Champions Tour kicks off its 2005 season with the MasterCard Championship hosted at the Big Island's spectacular Hualalai Golf Club, January 17-23. Look for the 2004 champion Fuzzy Zoeller to defend his title against an elite field of Champions Tour winners and golf legends.

All three rounds of this $1.6 million event will be televised on the Golf Channel, 2:30 to 5:30 pm (local time), Friday-Sunday. Spectator tickets will be available for $10 (daily), or $25 (season pass). For more information or advance ticket purchase, call 1-800-417-2770.


ARNOLD PALMER TO PLAY IN TURTLE BAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Arnold Palmer, the King of Golf, has committed to play in the Turtle Bay Championship January 24-30 at the course designed by and named for him, the Palmer Course, at the beautiful North Shore Turtle Bay Resort. He joins a marquee list of players including eight of the top ten money winners from the 2004 Champions Tour including defending champion, Hale Irwin, plus million dollar prize winning pros Gil Morgan, Bruce Fleisher, Larry Nelson, Mark McNulty, D.A. Weibring, Jim Thorpe and Allen Doyle.

The top eight players won 14 tournaments in 2004 and each received over $1 million in official prize money. Four of the players in the 78-player field, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Fuzzy Zoeller have received 10 prestigious Green Jackets by winning Masters tournaments from 1958 to 1981. In addition, these players and Hale Irwin have won fourteen Senior PGA Championships and U.S. Senior Open titles in their outstanding professional golfing careers.

The $1.5 million Turtle Bay Championship will have a Champion's prize of $225,000. It will receive national live coverage via The Golf Channel Friday through Sunday, January 28-30, from 2:30 to 5:30 pm (Hawaii time), or 7:30 to 10:30 (East Coast). The week-long activities begin on Monday, January 24 with a pro-qualifying round for two spots in the tournament. Tuesday, an All-Amateur event will be hosted at the Fazio Course, followed by a 36-hole pro-am event on Wednesday and Thursday. Seventy-eight players will then compete Friday through Sunday on the 7,088 yard, par-72 Championship Arnold Palmer Course.

Admission charge Friday through Sunday will be $10 daily. A three day season ticket is only $20. Additional tournament or sponsor information is available by phone 808-545-1588 or on the turtle Bay Resort Website.


STADLER MAKES DEBUT AT WENDY'S CHAMPIONS SKINS

Four legendary heroes of golf will tee it up on the Gold Course at Wailea for the 2005 Wendy's Champions Skins Game, scheduled for February 4-6. Craig Stadler, a 13-time winner on the PGA TOUR, will make his debut in the event, joining defending champion Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Watson captured the 2004 event after earning 10 skins and $400,000.

This year's $600,000 exhibition will be shown on ABC over two days. On Saturday, Feb. 5th, it's slated for broadcast from 11 am to 1 pm, and on Sunday from 8 am to 10 am (Hawaii time).

For more information about the Wendy's Champions Skins Game call 1-888-328-MAUI, or (808) 875-7450, or visit www.skinsgameseries.com.


WIE TO COMPETE IN LPGA SBS OPEN AT TURTLE BAY

In this season of giving, a special gift for Hawaii has been dropped under the Christmas Palm at Turtle Bay's Palmer Course by 15-year-old golf prodigy, Michelle Wie. Wie has accepted an invitation to play in the LPGA's newest event, the SBS Open at Turtle Bay, February 21-26, 2005.

With an exemption from title sponsor Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), Hawaii's junior golf phenom joins the elite of the LPGA for their first full-field competition of the year 2005. Wie will go head-to-head with the likes of Annika Sorenstam, Grace Park, Se Ri Pak, Christie Kerr and rookie standout, Paula Creamer, at the Turtle Bay Resort's Arnold Palmer Course. For amateur Wie, honor is at stake, but for the pros, a $150,000 first place prize comes with the honor from the $1,000,000 event purse.

A five year commitment by SBS, ensures that Korea's leading independent television network, will not only broadcast the exciting competition set against the stunning backdrop of Oahu's North Shore to the Pan-Asian television audience, but showcase Hawaii to a ready tourism target. The Golf Channel will provide domestic and some additional world coverage Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 24, 25 and 26.

During 2004 Wie played in six LPGA events including the prestigious Kraft Nabisco finishing in fourth place. That event marked her second straight top 10, and her best showing in any pro tournament. She was the youngest member of the Curtis Cup team's tournament history, winning two singles matches for the U.S., while wowing British fans. Other notable 2004 performances were at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship where she nearly succeeded in the defense of her national title at the U.S. Women's Open and at the U.S. Women's Amateur. Wie made a splash in Europe at the Evian Ladies Masters and completed her year on the opposite side of the world at the Samsung World event.

The LPGA roster of players includes formidable representation from Korea-born golfers who have become some of the most exciting and talented professionals in the world today. Korean-American Wie adds her youthful exuberance and unusual prowess to the field drawing the media spotlight not only to her exceptional game, but to the exceptional beauty of Hawaii at the 2005 SBS Open at Turtle Bay.

Ticket sales proceeds for the event benefit Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc. For further information regarding tournament tickets, sponsorships and promotions, call 808-792-9333.

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