Charlie King and "King Auto Group" is the Entitlement sponsor for the Pro-Junior Skills Challenge event at the 2012 Sony Open. This is their 6th year at the Sony Open in Hawaii, and the event took place on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 3:15 p.m. at the Waialae Country Club's 18th hole. The event benefits the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association. (HSJGA). This year, five of Hawaii's best junior golfers include Zachary Takano-Braunthal, a junior at Punahou School. Zachary finished T10 in the W. Duncan MacMillan Classic at Rush Creek Golf Club in Minnesota and will pair up with PGA Pro Zach Johnson, the 2009 Sony Open in Hawaii Champion. Alex Chiarella from Maui's Seabury Hall who returns to defend his 2011 first place title, King Auto Pro-Junior Skills Challenge and will pair off with PGA Pro Jerry Kelly, 2002 Sony Open in Hawaii PGA Tour champion. Jerry is participating in his ninth Pro-Junior Skills Challenge this year. Richard Hattori, the 2011 Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Player of the Year for the 15-18 age group is pairing off with PGA Pro Ricky Barnes who is the 122nd ranked golfer in the world. Lisa Kang, a sophomore at Mid-Pacific Institute is the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Player of the Year for the 15-18 age group and will pair off with PGA Pro Mark Wilson, the 2011 Sony Open in Hawaii champion. Wilson was also victorious at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and finished ranked 19th on the money list. Eimi Koga, 11th grader at Moanalua High School who in 2011 won her second consecutive OIA Championship and placed 3rd in the Callaway Jr. World tournament, shooting 4 under par is pairing off with PGA Pro Ryan Palmer, the 2010 Sony Open in Hawaii Champion.The King Auto Group Pro-Junior Skills Challenge will consist of 4 Skills Competitions, (1) Under the Banner 50 yard Shot, sponsored by King Auto Group. (2) Over the Bunker 20 yard Shot, sponsored by King Auto Group. (3) Sand Trap Shot, sponsored by Kraft Foods in Hawaii. (4) Challenge Putt, sponsored by Monarch Insurance. Each player hits two shots for the first three skills challenge and each player is given a single attempt at the Challenge Putt. The Pro-Junior team with the most combined points wins the competition. In order to qualify for the skill challenge, Hawaii junior golfers compete year round, earning points at each competition sanctioned by the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association. Points are calculated based on their performance. It's an experience of a lifetime for these juniors to partner with, and compete alongside the PGA Tour professionals, "said Charlie King of King Auto Group.
This year's winners of the King Auto Group Pro-Junior Skills Challenge are PGA Pro Zach Johnson (photo above), the 2009 Sony Open in Hawaii Champion and Zachary Takano-Braunthal (photo above), a junior at Punahou School. Zachary finished T10 in the W. Duncan MacMillan Classic at Rush Creek Golf Club in Minnesota. Second place, PGA Pro Jerry Kelly, 2002 Sony Open in Hawaii PGA Tour champion and Alex Chiarella from Maui's Seabury Hall who returns to defend his 2011 first place title. Third place, PGA Pro Ricky Barnes who is the 122nd ranked golfer in the world and Richard Hattori, the 2011 Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Player of the Year for the 15-18 age group. Forth place, PGA Pro Ryan Palmer, the 2010 Sony Open in Hawaii Champion and Eimi Koga, 11th grader at Moanalua High School who in 2011 won her second consecutive OIA Championship and placed 3rd in the Callaway Jr. World tournament, shooting 4 under par, and fifth place, PGA Pro Mark Wilson, the 2011 Sony Open in Hawaii champion. Wilson was also victorious at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and Lisa Kang, a sophomore at Mid-Pacific Institute is the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Player of the Year for the 15-18 age group. The winners are pictured above with Mary Bea Porter-King (top left) and Charlie King (top right). Candid photos and Video "click here."
