Everything comes up aces for Hirai

Kamito Hirai is lucky. Lucky he isn't old enough to buy anything more potent than a soft drink at Pine Forest Country Club. Otherwise, the 17-year-old Pinewood Prep senior might be on the hook for a hefty bar bill after making a hole-in-one on back-to-back Fridays.

On May 1, Hirai aced Pine Forest's 13th hole, using a 5-iron from 180 yards, while playing with Robert Lindley, Travis Williams and Marty Bunch. Then Friday morning, he added another hole-in-one, scoring from 148 yards with a 7-iron on the fifth hole while playing with Seth Davis.

That brings Hirai's career total of aces to four. He made a couple at Palmetto Hall's Cupp Course in Hilton Head before the family moved to Summerville.

"I didn't have to be in school because we're having exams," Hirai explained of the most recent ace. And the one on the previous Friday was made after school.

"They both were really good shots. I'd say (Friday's) was probably a little better because of where the pin was. It was a little trickier spot to hit. I hit it and was thinking it had a chance of going in. I was watching, then thought 'Wow! It just went in.' I was kind of stunned. Then I felt like it might have gone past the hole. But I walked up and couldn't find the ball on the green, in the bunkers or the rough. It was in the hole."

Hirai said he sent text messages to a couple of friends and called his mother immediately after this week's hole-in-one. And his mother cautioned him not to use up all of his shots before his summer tournaments.

He shot even-par 72s on both rounds. The first hole-in-one was sandwiched between a pair of birdies. The second one came on the heels of a bogey and was followed by a birdie.

Hirai was a member of Pinewood Prep's SCISA Class AAA state championship team. He will have a busy summer schedule, including several AJGA events before heading to Winthrop in the fall to play on the Eagles' golf team.

Legend Oaks wins Interclub

Legend Oaks won the Charleston Area Men's Interclub match played at Coosaw Creek, finishing with a score of 16 points. Coosaw was second with 7 points, edging Crowfield and Pine Forest with 6 each. Pat Killen of Stono Ferry was the top individual with 12 points. John Bliss of Crowfield and Brian O'Melia of Wescott tied for second with 10. Legend Oaks leads the overall standings with 51 points, followed by: Stono Ferry, 46; Crowfield, 44; Pine Forest, 42; and Shadowmoss, 41.5. Information is available at www.chsinterclub.org.

Moore first in Hurricanes event

Caulder Moore of Isle of Palms shot 73-70—143 and won the boys' 16-19 age group by five shots in the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour's Furman University Junior Shootout. Grant Waggoner of North Charleston was third in the boys' 13-15 age group.

Spencer invited to Future Masters

Kyle Spencer, 10, of Mount Pleasant has been invited to play in the Press Thornton Future Masters Golf Tournament, which will be played June 20-27 in Dothan, Ala.

Upcoming

--Friday: Charles Dubose Tournament, Miler CC to benefit The ARK (Adult Respite Care and services to individuals with Alzheimers and related memory disorders), (843) 832-2357.

--Saturday: 7th annual Josh Swicord Memorial, sponsored by Moncks Corner Lions Club, Berkeley Country Club, $60 per player, Bobby Mitchell at (843) 761-1566 or e-mail bobmitchell@homesc.com.

--May 19: Charleston RiverDogs Fun is Good Tournament to benefit the Medical University of South Carolina's Storm Eye Institute, Harbor Course-Wild Dunes Resort, $500 per team, contact Melissa McCants at (843) 723-7241 or online at www.riverdogs.com.

--May 19: Big Brothers Big Sisters Tournament, Daniel Island Club, register at www.cydc.org or call (843) 266-5218.

--May 20: Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Greater Charleston tournament, Pine Forest, $120 per team, contact Jason Besse at jbesse@.comctlowndes.

-- May 30: Athletic Association of St. Joseph, Shadowmoss Plantation, $70, Ann or All, (843) 556-4611. Entry deadline May 16.

--June 1: 2nd annual Diamond Devil Golf Gathering, Snee Farm, contact John Rhodes at (843) 860-1568 or Mike Bright at (843) 224-1005.

--June 1: Ascend Foundation for cancer awareness, Cassique- Kiawah Island Club, Jessica Bradley, (843) 225-4055 or jessica@ascendfoundation.org.

--June 5: Knology Charity Golf Classic to benefit the MUSC Children's Hospital, $150 individual or $600 tea, contact Catherine Shubeck at (843) 225-1012 or e-mail Catherine.Shubeck@knology.com.

--June 16-17: Mount Pleasant Junior Open, Patriots Point Golf Links, open to boys and girls ages 8-18, age groups 8-12 ($50) and 13-18 ($65), call (843) 849-2385 or info is online at www.townofmountpleasant.com.

Reach Tommy Braswell at (843) 937-5591 or e-mail braswell@postandcourier.com. Also, check out Lowcountry Links at www.postandcourier.

--June 26: Abby's Friends Charity Tournament to benefit MUSC Children's Hospital Pediatric Endocrinology Department, Juvenile Diabetes Research Department, JDRF and Camp Adam Fisher, contact Kendell Sutterlin at (843) 364-6731 or online at www.abbysfriends.org.

Reach Tommy Braswell at (843) 937-5591 or e-mail braswell@postandcourier.com. Also, check out Lowcountry Links at www.postandcourier.com/blogs.