June 22, 2006
Written by C.N.
Latest Asian American Golf Prodigy
You’ve probably heard of Michelle Wie already, the 16 year-old Korean American golf phenom whose ambition is to not just compete against other women golfers, but against the top male ones as well. But there’s a new name on the horizon — 15 year-old Tadd Fujikawa from Hawai’i, who unlike Michelle Wie, was able to qualify for the 2006 Men’s U.S. Open:
Tadd Fujikawa, a 15-year-old who just completed his freshman year at Moanalua High School, beat out nine other players in the smallest U.S. Open sectional qualifier to earn a trip to Winged Foot next week. . . . Fujikawa missed by one year becoming the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Open. Tyrell Garth was 14 when he qualified to play in the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial. . . .
Lori Fujikawa said her son didn’t start getting serious about golf until four years ago when he began taking lessons. He was previously into judo. Despite being just over 5 feet, the teen averages about 285 yards off the tee.
It’s always nice to have another Asian American representing. Congratulations to Tadd and best of luck to him at the U.S. Open and beyond.
Update: Unfortunately but probably not surprisingly, Tadd missed the cut at the U.S. Open. Nonetheless, he certainly did not finish dead last and actually finished with a better total than veterans such as Nick Price and Mark Calcavechia. We are sure to hear more about Tadd in future PGA events.
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Copyright © 2001- by C.N. Le. Some rights reserved. 
Suggested reference: Le, C.N. . "Latest Asian American Golf Prodigy" Asian-Nation: The Landscape of Asian America. <https://www.asian-nation.org/headlines/2006/06/latest-asian-american-golf-prodigy/> ().
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