Three Maui golfers, Anson Cabello of Kahului, Reagan James Miles of Kīhei and Tyler Loree of Kula, are set to test their games on one of Hawaiʻi’s biggest stages next Monday. The trio is part of a 12-player Hawaii amateur field in the Sony Open in Hawaiʻi amateur qualifier at Waialae Country Club, a one-round showdown where the winner scores a sponsor's exemption into the 2026 Sony Open at Waialae and a chance to tee it up with PGA Tour professionals. For Maui fans, it is a compact, high-pressure showcase of homegrown talent.
Qualifier tradition and organizers
The qualifier is coordinated by the Hawaiʻi State Golf Association and presented by Friends of Hawaiʻi Charities, and that lone amateur exemption dates back to 1995. Over the years, it has helped push several Hawaii players into the national spotlight. The HSGA caps the field at 12 competitors, with automatic berths going to the reigning Hawaiʻi State Amateur and Manoa Cup champions. Remaining spots are filled using year-end Player of the Year rankings, according to Hawaiʻi State Golf Association.
Maui entrants and their routes
According to Maui Now, Cabello, Miles and Loree will carry the flag for Maui in the 12-player lineup. Cabello punched his ticket into the qualifier picture as the low scorer at this year's U.S. Open local qualifying at The King Kamehameha Golf Club. Loree enters as the reigning Hawaiʻi State Amateur champion, while Miles brings in a run of top-10 finishes from 2025. Those paths set up a mix of proven winners and quietly consistent performers in next week's field.
Loree's rise
Loree has been on a quick climb. He captured the 2025 Hawaiʻi State Amateur title and earned a spot in the 125th U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club, then turned heads earlier this year with a strong opening round when he played in the Sony Open. That blend of recent results and big-stage experience makes him one of the more closely watched names in a one-round qualifier where a hot start can decide everything. AmateurGolf.com details Loree’s state championship run and his Sony Open appearance.
Field rules and where to follow
The HSGA lists full-time Hawaiʻi residency and amateur status as requirements for entry, and the state’s Player of the Year standings are used to round out the field beyond the automatic qualifiers. Official starting times and pairings are available on GolfGenius.com, while the Sony Open’s site keeps the broader tournament calendar and event information for January at Waialae. Those outlets will carry final tee times and any late adjustments for next Monday's qualifier.
What’s at stake
The amateur exemption has a track record of pushing local golfers into larger conversations, and for Cabello, Miles, and Loree, next week is about making one round count in a big way. Once the scores are in, local coverage is expected to provide results, reactions, and details on who ultimately secures that coveted sponsor’s exemption into the 2026 Sony Open.
