Maui resident Tyler Loree takes a practice swing before he participated in the PGA tour’s Sony Open in January. Loree, 18, was among participating amateurs at the Wai’alae Country Club on Oahu, after competing for a spot against college and other nonprofessional golfers at a Hawaii State Golf Association tournament last year. Courtesy photo

Seabury Hall senior Tyler Loree won the boys golf state championship for a second time in two years after defeating a field of 96 competitors in the David Ishii Golf State Championships at the Big Island’s Mauna Lani Resort.

“It felt really amazing,” Loree said. “I’m really happy I defended this championship.”

Loree, 18, secured first place in convincing fashion with a 4-under-par total of 140 after two rounds. Loree finished the state tournament an impressive six strokes ahead of his closest competitor, Lucas Summerhays of Island School.

“It was a great way to end my high school golf,” said Loree, who plans to play in college and has a scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles.

Loree secured a spot in amateur competition in 2024 with the Hawaii State Golf Association, which enabled him to participate in the PGA Tour’s Sony Golf Open on Oahu in January.

In the Oahu tournament, he competed against 12 amateurs, including college and other non-professional golf players from Hawaii.

His father Robert Loree said Tyler has been playing golf since he was 9 years old.

“He fell in love with the game and has been playing ever since,” Robert Loree said. “It’s something he’s wanted to do for a while.”

His father said he was amazed and happy to see his son play in the PGA tournament earlier this year.

“To do it before you step into college is an incredible feat,” Robert Loree said.

According to Seabury Hall Athletic Director Yacine “Yaya” Meyer, Tyler Loree is an amazing individual who’s very humble.

“I think he’s one of the best, if not the best athlete, to come out of Seabury,” Meyer said.

Loree said he’s been balancing his school work and golf. He also does yoga and stretches two to four times a week. He tries to play three to four hours of golf after school, focusing on his short game and swing drills, and he hopes to eventually become a professional golfer.

“All I know is I’m going to give it my best,” he said. “I’ll see where golf takes me.”

High schools on Maui did well in the state golf competition this week, with three golfers placing in the top 10, including Renner Chilly of Maui Preparatory Academy in fifth and Lakota Lee of Kihei Charter School in sixth.

In team championships for boys, Maui Preparatory Academy secured fifth place, followed by Baldwin High school in eleventh.

In girls individual competition, Tehya Chumley of Maui Preparatory Academy placed ninth, followed by Anessa Rigor of Baldwin High School in thirteenth, Ava Kawahara of Maui Preparatory Academy in fourteenth, and Sacha Salem of Maui Preparatory Academy in 20th place.

Maui Preparatory Academy girls took third place in team competition, followed by Baldwin in seventh, and Maui High school in 10th.