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ODA MAKES CUT WITH WALK-OFF EAGLE

By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@staradvertiser.com
going and said that I got it
on that putt. He helped me

A
s dusk settled on
Waialae Country Club,
John Oda wouldn’t let
the sun set on his stay
in the Sony Open in
Hawaii just yet.
After grinding through 17
holes, the Moanalua gradu-
ate stepped to Waialae’s
ninth tee two shots below
the projected cut line.
He saw a birdie opportu-
nity turn south on the previ-
ous green and “kind of got a
little down on myself” before
walking to the final hole at 2
over par for the round and
even for the tournament.
“But with the last hole be-
ing downwind,” he said, “if I
just hit the fairway I could
give myself a chance at it.”
Having struggled to find
the short grass for much of
the round, this time he
striped his drive down the
middle. Standing 160 yards
out, he chose an 8-iron for
the all-important approach
shot and dropped it inside
of 6 feet, leaving him an ea-
gle putt away from a week-
end tee time.
“I was actually a little ner-
vous over that putt,” Oda
said. “Just like my last putt
to qualify (on Monday), you
work so hard to get to that
point and to make a putt it’s
almost like you need to will
it in. Just forget about all me-
chanics and just trust the
John Oda watched his drive off the 10th tee during Friday’s second round of the Sony Open in Hawaii.
line and will it in.”
That he did and Oda’s first
eagle of the week provided a
dramatic punctuation to a
round of even-par 70 and his
first weekend appearance in
three Sony Opens.
After a fist bump with his
caddie/manager, Walker
Huddy, Oda hustled to the
driving range to get in a few
more swings before dark-
believe in myself.”
Tyler Ota, Oda’s former
Moanalua teammate, got out
to a rough start to his sec-
ond round and closed his
first Sony week with a 74 for
a total of 4-over 144.
The 24-year-old said the
week left him drained, yet
antsy to get back on the
range.
“Playing in something
like this gives you the bug
to get better,” Ota said.
“Seeing how good you can
play golf at a different level,
it gives you motivation, it
gives you something to
strive for. I’m tired, but I
want to go practice more, I
want to get better.”
Ota said the Hawaii State
Amateur Championship in
March is the next high-
lighted item on his calendar.
How long the three-time Ha-
waii State Golf Association
player of the year remains
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
an amateur is less certain.
“Possibly” Ota said when
asked if he’d consider turn-
ness fell. He has more work and an opening-round 68 on hole on Friday rivaled his ing pro, “especially playing
ahead of him this weekend. Thursday, Oda posted 11 par-birdie finish at last sea- this week, talking with the
“I’m just really thankful consecutive pars before a son’s NCAA championships guys out here, seeing the
for the opportunity and bogey on No. 3 and another to push UNLV into the eight- kind of lifestyle they live.
couldn’t be happier to see a on No. 5 put his weekend team match-play field. Entertain the thought
lot of my friends and family hopes in jeopardy. He saved Oda, who turned pro in maybe, whether I pull the
and guys supporting me,” par with a 15-foot putt on September, said he’s been trigger or not is a different
said Oda, who will tee off at No. 6 to keep him within working on “trying to be as story. But we’ll see.”
12:55 p.m. today with Shugo striking distance with two positive as I can and enjoy Eric Dugas of Makena Golf
Imahira of Japan. holes to play. the game for that, trust the and Beach Club carded his
After placing third in the In terms of clutch mo- process. second round of 1-over 71 to
Monday qualifier at Hoakalei ments, Oda said his final “Walker, he really kept me finish his week at 2 over.

Johnson stays in striking distance

By Billy Hull for his third consecutive rough on his third shot to front of me.”
bhull@staradvertiser.com top-10 at Waialae. settle for a second bogey on The two-time major win-
He has shot par or better No. 16. ner, who owns 12 PGA wins
Zach Johnson once again in 10 consecutive trips A steady diet of pars over on his résumé that includes
sits comfortably at 10 under around the course, and his the next eight holes ended more than $42 million in ca-
par after two rounds of the 67 on Friday was his seventh with a 6-footer for birdie on reer winnings, needed to go
Sony Open in Hawaii. 3-under round or better in the par-3 seventh. 9 under over his final two
His odds of hoisting a tro- that same period. Hole No. 9 kept Johnson rounds to claim his victory
phy on Sunday are just a tad “I feel like my game’s in a on the top page of the lead- here nine years ago.
better than they were at this position to make a move,” erboard as he smoked — by In his other eight trips
point a year ago. said Johnson, who is in a his standard — a 313-yard around Waialae over the
Instead of trailing the four-way tie for second. “I drive into the fairway and weekend, Johnson has put
leader by seven shots, like actually probably hit it bet- then dropped in a 27-footer together consecutive
he did as a close spectator ter than I scored for the for eagle and a 67. rounds in the 60s only twice, CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
of Justin Thomas’ re- most part. Two errant shots “That’s 20-something feet. including last year, when the
cord-breaking four-day run today that cost me two bo- You’re just trying to get it tournament was already Zach Johnson watched his tee shot on the first hole.
around Waialae Country geys.” going on the right line. I’m over before play started on
Club in 2017, Johnson is The first happened on his fairly fortunate that it actu- Sunday. his events — and four top- number up here at Waialae
within striking distance of opening swing of the round ally hit the hole, because I With no sign of the favor- five finishes — so far this because guys are so good
Brian Harman, trailing by when he drove the ball right would have been at least 4, 5 able weather conditions season. and I think slightly widening
just three heading into the of the fairway into a nasty feet past the hole,” Johnson changing over the weekend, “My mind-set is going to the fairways and the greens
weekend at a place he has spot in the rough on No. 10. said. “I didn’t necessarily hit it’ll likely take a similar per- still be pretty aggressive,” holding, you’ve got to be ag-
thrived at in his career. After consecutive birdies all my lines today with my formance to catch Harman, said Johnson, who is looking gressive. If we have wind like
Johnson, who shot a 67 af- to get off the schneid, John- putter, but I putted really who is arguably the hottest for his first win since the this today, which was essen-
ter opening with a 7-under son played from the right well yesterday, and I feel like player on tour, with top-10 2015 Open Championship. tially minimal, you’ve got to
63 on Thursday, is searching rough off the tee to the left my best putting is still in performances in all five of “You’ve still got to put a keep the pedal down.”

SONY OPEN NOTEBOOK

TODAY’S TEE TIMES SCOREBOARD — FRIDAY’S SECOND ROUND

At Waialae Country Club • Purse: $6.2 million

FIRST TEE 12:35 p.m.
Kevin Kisner
11:45 a.m.
Xinjun Zhang
Yardage: 7,044; Par 70 (35-35) • a-denotes amateur

11:05 a.m. Brian Harman............... 64-63--127 -13 Scott Brown..................69-67--136 -4 John Oda................... 68-70--138 -2 Aaron Baddeley............72-70--142 +2
Xander Schauffele Blayne Barber Zach Johnson................63-67--130 -10 Scott Piercy...................69-67--136 -4 Shugo Imahira...............67-71--138 -2 Smylie Kaufman............72-70--142 +2
Scott Brown Brian Stuard J.J. Spaun John Peterson.............. 66-64--130 -10 Matt Every......................65-71--136 -4 Stephan Jaeger............68-70--138 -2 Beau Hossler................67-75--142 +2
Tom Hoge...................... 65-65--130 -10 Rory Sabbatini............. 71-65--136 -4 Sam Ryder.....................68-70--138 -2 Kyle Thompson.............69-73--142 +2
Scott Piercy
12:45 p.m. 11:55 a.m. Chris Kirk........................63-67--130 -10 Seamus Power............ 68-68--136 -4 Failed to make the cut Martin Piller....................72-70--142 +2
Matt Every Talor Gooch.................. 64-66--130 -10 Corey Conners............ 70-66--136 -4 Jon Curran..................... 71-68--139 -1 Aaron Wise....................68-74--142 +2
Patton Kizzire Kevin Tway Patton Kizzire.................67-64--131 -9 Keith Mitchell................ 70-66--136 -4 Kelly Kraft....................... 71-68--139 -1 Harold Varner III............70-72--142 +2
11:15 a.m. Ollie Schniederjans Vaughn Taylor Ollie Schniederjans.... 66-65--131 -9 Jonathan Byrd.............. 68-68--136 -4 Jamie Lovemark........... 70-69--139 -1 Ted Potter, Jr..................68-74--142 +2
Kyle Stanley...................64-67--131 -9 James Hahn...................67-69--136 -4 Sangmoon Bae............66-73--139 -1 Robert Streb..................67-75--142 +2
Brandon Harkins Kyle Stanley Webb Simpson Kevin Kisner.................. 68-64--132 -8 Tyrone Van Aswegen.68-68--136 -4 Rob Oppenheim.......... 70-69--139 -1 Jonas Blixt......................72-70--142 +2
Ben Martin Xander Schauffele...... 68-64--132 -8 Nicholas Lindheim.......66-70--136 -4 Steve Wheatcroft.........72-67--139 -1 Eric Dugas.................71-71--142 +2
Adam Schenk 12:55 p.m. 12:05 p.m. Brian Stuard..................67-66--133 -7 Chez Reavie................. 68-69--137 -3 Luke Donald..................72-67--139 -1 Andrew Landry.............68-75--143 +3
Jerry Kelly........................66-67--133 -7 Dominic Bozzelli........... 70-67--137 -3 Russell Henley..............72-67--139 -1 J.J. Henry.........................73-70--143 +3
Tom Hoge Jordan Spieth Russell Knox................. 69-64--133 -7 Tony Finau...................... 70-67--137 -3 Fabián Gómez.............. 70-69--139 -1 Brice Garnett................68-75--143 +3
11:25 a.m. Cameron Smith............66-67--133 -7 Jonathan Randolph..... 69-68--137 -3 Brett Stegmaier........... 71-68--139 -1 Abraham Ancer.............69-74--143 +3
Chris Kirk Jason Kokrak Daisuke Kataoka......... 65-68--133 -7 Xinjun Zhang.................72-65--137 -3 Billy Hurley III.................70-70--140 E Danny Lee......................71-72--143 +3
Charles Howell III Talor Gooch Lanto Griffin Harris English............... 69-65--134 -6 Blayne Barber.............. 68-69--137 -3 Mac Hughes..................70-70--140 E John Huh........................72-71--143 +3
Daniel Berger Gary Woodland............67-67--134 -6 J.J. Spaun....................... 67-70--137 -3 Greg Chalmers............ 71-69--140 E Cody Gribble.................71-73--144 +4
Matt Jones 1:05 p.m. 12:15 p.m. Stewart Cink................. 70-64--134 -6 Kevin Tway.....................71-66--137 -3 Jimmy Walker................74-66--140 E Hyung-Sung Kim..........68-76--144 +4
Ryan Armour..................67-67--134 -6 Vaughn Taylor................64-73--137 -3 Morgan Hoffmann........69-71--140 E a-Tyler Ota.................70-74--144 +4
11:35 a.m. Brian Harman Roberto Diaz Hudson Swafford........ 68-66--134 -6 Webb Simpson............ 67-70--137 -3 Vijay Singh..................... 71-69--140 E Chad Campbell............71-73--144 +4
Justin Thomas...............67-67--134 -6 Jordan Spieth............... 69-68--137 -3 K.J. Choi..........................69-71--140 E Bronson Burgoon........72-72--144 +4
Zach Johnson Andrew Putnam
Nate Lashley Jason Dufner................. 69-65--134 -6 Jason Kokrak................. 67-70--137 -3 Peter Malnati.................65-75--140 E Matt Atkins.....................72-72--144 +4
Ryan Palmer John Peterson Keegan Bradley Sam Saunders..............67-67--134 -6 Lanto Griffin................... 67-70--137 -3 Ben Silverman.............. 71-69--140 E Tatsuya Kodai............... 75-69--144 +4
Wesley Bryan............... 68-66--134 -6 Roberto Díaz.................. 70-67--137 -3 Sean O’Hair...................70-71--141 +1 Tyler Duncan..................72-72--144 +4
Emiliano Grillo 12:25 p.m. Marc Leishman............ 68-66--134 -6 Andrew Putnam............71-66--137 -3 Luke List.........................73-68--141 +1 Andrew Yun...................72-72--144 +4

11:45 a.m. 10TH TEE Steve Allan

Ryan Blaum................... 66-68--134 -6
Nate Lashley..................68-67--135 -5
Ryan Palmer................. 71-64--135 -5
Keegan Bradley........... 70-68--138 -2
Steve Allan.....................68-70--138 -2
Brian Gay...................... 70-68--138 -2
Ricky Barnes.................72-69--141 +1
Jim Herman....................70-71--141 +1
Chris Stroud.................. 67-74--141 +1
Yusaku Miyazato...........72-73--145 +5
Zecheng Dou................74-71--145 +5
Gunn Yang.....................74-71--145 +5
Wesley Bryan 11:05 a.m. Brian Gay Emiliano Grillo...............68-67--135 -5 William McGirt..............66-72--138 -2 Tom Lovelady.................73-68--141 +1 Michael Kim...................70-75--145 +5
Marc Leishman William McGirt Charles Howell III.........67-68--135 -5 Joel Dahmen..................68-70--138 -2 Ethan Tracy....................70-71--141 +1 Richy Werenski.............69-76--145 +5
Rory Sabbatini Daniel Berger................67-68--135 -5 Conrad Shindler...........66-72--138 -2 Bill Haas.........................71-70--141 +1 Omar Uresti...................74-71--145 +5
Ryan Blaum Seamus Power 12:35 p.m. Matt Jones......................67-68--135 -5 Colt Knost......................68-70--138 -2 Mark Wilson...................73-68--141 +1 Cameron Tringale......... 74-72--146 +6
Brandon Harkins..........67-68--135 -5 D.A. Points.....................68-70--138 -2 Peter Uihlein..................70-71--141 +1 Whee Kim......................71-76--147 +7
11:55 a.m. Corey Conners Joel Dahmen Ben Martin..................... 69-66--135 -5 Si Woo Kim....................67-71--138 -2 Troy Merritt.....................73-68--141 +1 Michael Thompson......78-70--148 +8
Adam Schenk................70-65--135 -5 Austin Cook...................67-71--138 -2 Kevin Na..........................71-71--142 +2 Satoshi Kodaira............75-75--150 +10
Justin Thomas 11:15 a.m. Conrad Shindler
Jason Dufner Colt Knost
Sam Saunders Keith Mitchell
Jonathan Byrd 12:45 p.m. I think it’s been really positive for raffling it
12:05 p.m. James Hahn D.A. Points
Stewart Cink
(the Alabama jersey) off. He’s (Justin Thomas)
11:25 a.m. Si Woo Kim
Ryan Armor Austin Cook going to let me benefit my foundation. We’re
Hudson Swafford Tyrone
Van Aswegen 12:55 p.m. excited about that. We’re going to help a
12:15 p.m. Nicholas Lindheim
Daisuke Kataoka
John Oda bunch of kids, all in good fun and good faith.”
Chez Reavie Shugo Imahira
Harris English
Gary Woodland 11:35 a.m. 1:05 p.m. Kevin Kisner
Dominic Bozzelli Georgia graduate, on wearing an Alabama jersey down the 17th
12:25 p.m. Stephan Jaeger
Tony Finau fairway on Thursday after losing a bet to Crimson Tide alum Justin
Sam Ryder
Jerry Kelly Jonathan Randolph Thomas on who would win the national championship in football
Russell Knox
Cameron Smith JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
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