By John Burnett/ For the Tribune-Herald

Besides the big storm, the big news in Hilo was Nick Mason's historic win at the 7th annual Hilo Invitational Golf Tournament on Sunday at Hilo Municipal Golf Course.

The 21 - year - old junior at the University of Hawaii at Hilo fired a 3 - under - par 68, giving him a two - round total of 7 - under - par 135, five strokes ahead of runner - up Joe Phengsavath.

Mason, a 2003 NCAA Division II All - West Region golfer, kept his cool while playing in a threesome the final day with Phengsavath, a 28 - year - old professional representing Honolulu's Ala Wai Golf Club, and 43 - year - old local favorite Kevin Hayashi, a Mauna Kea Resort pro who won the Hilo Invitational in 1999 while an assistant pro at the host Hilo Muni.

The three were tied atop the leaderboard after Saturday's rain - soaked opening round at 4 - under - par 67.

"It feels great," said Mason, the first amateur ever to win the Hilo Invitational. "I can't believe I went head - to - head with those pros and actually edged them out at the end. It was just great."

"Nick just played flawless golf today," said the Laotian - born Phengsavath, a former top - rated local racquetball player who was in his second tournament as a pro. "He did not make any mistakes. He was straight off the tee and he putted well today. When he got into trouble on a couple of holes, he recovered very well. He deserves the win, the way he played today."

Aaron Chun, another professional, put together consistent rounds of 71 and 70 to finish third at 1 - under - par 140.

Hayashi slipped a bit to 4 - over - 75 to finish tied for fifth at even - par 142 with amateur Garrett Okamura of Maui, who like Mason is a junior on the Vulcan golf squad.

"Everyone knows Kevin. Everyone's rooting for Kevin," said Mason about the popular Hayashi, who was paired with 14 - year - old phenom Michelle Wie in January's Sony Open in Honolulu. "I didn't feel the crowd was rooting against me. Everyone was happy for me afterwards. But Kevin's a local Hilo guy and everyone likes him. He's a great guy to play with and a great player."

Mason, the son of a recently - minted U.S. Army brigadier general, played his first tournament golf as a junior in high school at Alexandria, Virginia, where he grew up. His father, then a full - bird colonel, was transferred to Schofield Barracks and the family moved to Wahiawa, where Mason stayed below the recruiting radar while playing his senior year at Leilehua High School.

"I was third at states," he said. "I kind of went unnoticed for college. But now, I'm actually starting to play decent golf, so it's working out good."

That's putting it mildly. Mason finished in a tie for second individually at the Taylor Made Waikoloa Intercollegiate in mid - February, carding a 54 - hole total of 9 - under 207 at the Waikoloa Kings' course, two strokes off the pace set by winner Anthony Kim of Oklahoma in the 21 - team tournament in which UH - Hilo was the lone D - II entry.

With the Hilo Invitational win, Mason qualifies for the Governor's Cup, a tournament where the state's top 12 amateurs meet the top 12 professionals in team play. Each of those 12 amateurs also has the opportunity to compete in a qualifying tournament at Honolulu's fabled Waialae Country Club for a spot in the 2005 Sony Open.

As for the runner - up, Phengsavath waxed philosophical about finishing second to the white - hot Mason in Sunday's final round.

"(Saturday), my putter worked very well," he said. "Today, I played very well, but I struggled on the greens. I hit a lot of fairways and greens. But some days you putt good and some days it just won't go your way, you know."

Christel Tomori, a Hilo native representing the New Ewa Beach Golf Club, was the top woman finisher, carding a 3 - over 74 to finish at 150, two strokes ahead of fellow pro Camie Hoshino.

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Hilo Invitational

Top finishers

Sunday, Feb. 29

Hilo Muni

Nick Mason (A), 67 - 68 - 135; Joe Phengsavath, 67 - 73 - 140; Aaron Chun, 71 - 70 - 141; Kevin Hayashi, 67 - 75 - 142; Garrett Okamura (A), 69 - 73 - 142; Kevin Carll, 72 - 71 - 143; Mark Takahama, 72 - 71 - 143; Reynold Lee, 69 - 75 - 144; Shane Hoshino, 70 - 74 - 144; Joey Tadeo, 72 - 72 - 144; Chris Keiter, 73 - 71 - 144; Kellen - Floyd Asao (A) 69 - 76 - 145; Norman - Ganin Asao, 70 - 75 - 145; Ross Mitsutani (A), 71 - 74 - 144; Blaine Kimura (A), 72 - 73 - 145; Vernon Silva, 72 - 73 - 145; Sean Maekawa (A), 69 - 77 - 146; Kyle Higuchi (A), 70 - 76 - 146; Jeffrey Ferry, 71 - 75 - 146; Hee Beom Kim (A), 71 - 75 - 146; Dean Prince, 73 - 73 - 146; Casey Nakama, 74 - 72 - 146; Shannon Sibayan (A), 74 - 72 - 146; Dante Estrada, 71 - 76 - 147; John Lynch, 71 - 76 - 147; Colin Gilliam (A), 72 - 75 - 147; Douglas Oki (A), 72 - 75 - 147; Chad Quilausing (A), 72 - 75 - 147; Matt Hall, 73 - 75 - 148; Jonthan Ota (A), 73 - 75 - 148; Shaun Sato (A), 73 - 75 - 148; Vince Licata (A), 74 - 74 - 148; Henry Park (A), 74 - 74 - 148; Regan Lee, 75 - 73 - 148; Barney Sheffield, 75 - 73 - 148; Del Marc Fujita (A), 76 - 72 - 148; Jacob Low (A), 76 - 73 - 149; Travis Toyama (A), 76 - 73 - 149; Jim Olsen, 77 - 72 - 149; Brady Yokooji Jr., 71 - 79 - 150; Jerald Satake, 73 - 77 - 150; Ivan Cunningham, 75 - 75 - 150; Kurt Nino (A), 75 - 75 - 150; Kyle Tengan (A), 75 - 75 - 150; Christel Tomori, 76 - 74 - 150; Don Kouchi (A), 78 - 72 - 150; Kevin Shimomura (A), 73 - 78 - 151; Tyson Shinaut (A), 74 - 77 - 151; Jay Taise, 74 - 77 - 151; Kyle Shimokusu, 74 - 77 - 151; Daryl Inaba, 75 - 76 - 151; Herman Manalili, 75 - 76 - 151; Duane Pavao (A), 77 - 74 - 151; David Kim, 78 - 73 - 151.

Other scores

Jim Shaw, 152; Tommy Hines, 152; Camie Hoshino, 152; Dean Dorothy, 152; Troy Higashiyama (A), 152; Randy Shibuya (A), 152; Brandon Masingill (A), 153; Mark Bomar, 153; Dean DeSa (A), 153; Peter Rice (A), 153; Joe Saliba (A), 153; Bruce Miyashiro (A), 154; Michael Tsutsumi (A), 155; Stephen Zane (A), 155; Kellan Anderson (A), 155; Ken Nakano, 155; John Bascuk (A), 155; Lee Hardy, 156; Beau Yokomoto, 156; Ty Otake, 156; Dane Ayers (A), 156; Steven Bollbol, 156; Cliff Council, 156; Brian Okumura (A), 156; Gary Kong (A), 157; Dylan Nakano (A), 157; Amanda Wilson (A), 157; Loi Strohmann (A), 158; Darren Sano, 158; Troy Sato, 158; Kirk Usui (A), 158; Bryson Silva, 158; Mark Mattice, 159; Hans Hussey, 159; Rusty Santiago (A), 160; Galvin Fujii (A), 160.