Maui Open set to return for first time since 2019

KAHULUI -- The smile on Scott Reinhart's face says it all these days.

The reason for Reinhart's joy is the return of the Maui Open golf tournament, which has not been played since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but is set to be back at The Dunes at Maui Lani this summer.

Reinhart is the PGA Director of Golf at The Dunes and Maui Open co-chairman with Maui YMCA director Mike Morris.

"We are beyond excited, we're hoping to turn this into a huge event again on Maui and get some Mainland PGA pros, really drum up the event after Chris Shimomura's success and being able to turn that into a steppingstone," Reinhart said last week. "We're hoping to get somebody that's another diamond in the rough kind of scenario or somebody trying to get on a (mini) tour turning that into something."

Shimomura, a Lahainaluna High School and University of Hawaii-Hilo graduate, won the Maui Open for the second time in 2019. He used his $5,000 winner's check to make a run at the PGA Tour Canada's Mackenzie Tour.

Fellow Mauians Alex Chiarella, a Seabury Hall alum and Korn Ferry Tour player, and King Kekaulike grad Sam Cyr, a former player on the Asian Tour, are also past winners of the Maui Open.

The event also draws the likes of top Maui amateurs Royden Heirakuji and Jake Grodzinsky, the Seabury Hall golf coach and a former Korn Ferry Tour player.

"We're hoping that Alex and Sam play, we know Chris is definitely going to play, he's committed to that, so we're looking good," Reinhart said.

This year's event, set for Aug. 6-7, has more than 20 entries already and will be capped at 126 total for the professional, senior (50-over), super senior (60-over) and A flights.

"We really want to get those professionals here, so whatever we have to do -- we have a nice purse, $30,000 that Maui Toyota and the Farias family has sponsored it, so we are looking pretty good," Reinhart said. "We have got to get some word out to the Mainland and turn this into getting on to the next tour."

At a recent Maui Interscholastic League boys dual match between Baldwin High School and Maui Prep, the subject of the Maui Open came up with the high school golfers as they played the front nine of The Dunes.

"That's the thing, I think even though we're looking at the pro side of it, I think what's going to happen is we're going to see the really good amateurs play here," Reinhardt said. "Someone's going to step up and win this thing."

Morris is honored to help the top non-PGA Tour event on the Valley Isle.

"I am volunteering to help put on the Maui Open, I have done that for about the last five years," Morris said. "And really excited about it, looking forward after a pretty long layoff, a couple years. As Scott said, yeah, there's some really great amateurs on Maui, some who have made some real names for themselves.

"Then, there's some older guys like me who play in the senior division that are pretty good. We look forward to having all those folks back."

Morris goes way back with the event over the years.

"It was touted as the biggest small golf tournament in Hawaii," he said. "Some great winners, when you look back over the course of however many years that it's been running, there's some great golfers in there."

Morris said to bring the event back this year is a huge step for the Maui golf community.

"Oh gosh, I think anything we can do to get back to a sense of normal is great, although I'm not sure we'll ever be normal again," Morris said. "Love that it's coming back. Most of the players every year when they see me out on the golf course ask me, 'When are we having the Maui Open?' "

To register for the event, contact Reinhart at (808) 872-9047 or sreinhart@mauilani.

com; or Morris at (808) 264-4007 or mike@mauiymca.org.

Questions can also be directed to The Dunes at Maui Lani Pro Shop at (808) 873-0422.

Entry fees for Aloha Section PGA members is $245, unaffiliated professionals is $270 and amateurs is $195.

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.