After six days of competition at Oahu Country Club, the 116th Manoa Cup crowned its champion Saturday, with former University of Hawai‘i golfers Remington Hirano and Kolbe Irei squaring off in the 36-hole final.
Under clear skies in Nu‘uanu, Hawai‘i’s premier amateur golf tournament saw Roosevelt graduate Irei take a 3-up lead through 25 holes. But Hirano, a Punahou alum who finished runner-up four years ago, surged down the stretch, winning six of the next eight holes.
His run was punctuated by a 20-foot putt on the 34th hole, clinching a 3-and-2 victory and sending him into a celebratory plunge in the pool.
“It’s great. I’ve been playing this tournament since I was maybe 13, so to finally be able to win this is surreal,” Hirano said. “It was a long week. I played a lot of golf, but I’m glad it’s done.”
Hirano, who competed for UH in 2023 after four seasons at the University of San Diego, said a chip-in on the 12th hole, his first lead of the match, provided a critical mental spark.
“It was definitely a little bit of a mental boost,” he said. “Being down all day, to chip in and take the lead there was really big for momentum. I think it helped carry me through the rest of the match.”
Hirano added that the week tested him both physically and mentally.
“I was down in most of my matches until the last few holes,” he said. “Today, I think I was four down through five, but had a good comeback on the back 18. I’m proud of the way I fought.”
For a look at the complete history of the Manoa Cup, including a list of past champions, click here.