KAWAIHAE, Hawai'i — After letting the Prince Resorts Hawai'i State Open championship leave the state the past three years, Hawai'i golfers barely let it leave the island yesterday at the uncommonly calm Mauna Kea Golf Course.

University of Hawai'i senior Jarett Hamamoto drained a 15-foot putt on the final hole to subdue defending champion Chad Saladin for the title. Hamamoto (71-212), who won two state high school championships for Waiakea, is the first amateur champ since Wendell Tom in 1982.

Waiakea senior Christine Kim, the reigning state high school girls champion, cruised to the women's title. She closed with a 2-over-par 74 to win by seven over 2004 state high school champion Britney Choy (75-234).

Both girls have enjoyed a memorable month. Kim signed a letter of intent to play for Colorado in the fall. Choy, a Leilehua senior, signed with New Mexico.

At the other end of the age spectrum, Lahaina's Dean Prince was schooling the seniors. He flirted with shooting his age (67), but settled for a 70 to win by 11. Waikoloa amateur Kirk Smith (81-226) was second.

It was Prince's seventh Open senior title, but first since 2001.

Kim went into the final round with at least a six-shot advantage over the four others — all high school students — who survived the cut in the small women's flight.

She three-putted the first three holes for bogey to give them hope, then snatched it away — and shed her putting problems — with a 5-foot birdie putt on her fifth hole.

"From there I just played my regular game," Kim said with a shrug. She was even-par over the final 13 holes and too tough to chase down.

"She was just on," Choy said. "I'm happy for Christine. She deserves it."

After blowouts in the other two flights, a shootout ensued in the open flight. Hamamoto won it in the final moments, but Saladin's rally gave him the $6,000 first-prize money since amateurs are not allowed to collect.

Hamamoto did get a $750 gift certificate, as did Kim and Smith. Prince took home $2,500 of the $50,000 purse.

Hamamoto held a two-shot advantage over UH-Hilo senior Kevin Shimomura going into the final round. Hamamoto was three up on Saladin, who closed with a 3-under 69 to share low-round honors with third-place David Havens (69-217).

When Saladin birdied No. 12 they were tied. Hamamoto sank a long birdie putt on the 14th to surge ahead again. Saladin caught him with birdie on the next hole. Both birdied the 16th.

Both hit to about 15 feet on the final hole. Hamamoto putted first and put his ball in the heart from the right side. Saladin slid it by from below the hole.

"He made clutch putts like that all day," said Saladin, who has lived in Arizona nearly two years, but was stationed at Schofield the previous four. "He was fun to watch. He played great. I feel like I played pretty good today but it just wasn't good enough. ... He beat me."

Saladin, 30, won the Open by five last year, then captured the first tournament of the Grey Goose Gateway summer desert tour. He had three top-three finishes and earned more than $40,000.

That was inspiration yesterday for Hamamoto. It meant more than bringing the Hawai'i State Open championship back to Hawai'i.

"I didn't want it to happen again," Hamamoto said of the succession of Mainland champs. "But they are all good guys. I just wanted to see if I could play with him (Saladin), Gateway and all that."

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.