LIHU‘E — Kenji Miyata fired a one-under par 71 (36-35) to capture the 2012 Menehune Junior golf tournament hosted by the Kaua‘i Junior Golf Association Sunday at Puakea Golf Course. Pono Tokioka, finishing the recent David Ishii Foundation Hawai‘i High
LIHU‘E — Kenji Miyata fired a one-under par 71 (36-35) to capture the 2012 Menehune Junior golf tournament hosted by the Kaua‘i Junior Golf Association Sunday at Puakea Golf Course.
Pono Tokioka, finishing the recent David Ishii Foundation Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state boys championship in a tie with Miyata for sixth place, trailed Miyata by two strokes on the crossing and despite picking up a stroke on the back nine, finished three strokes short at 74 (38-36) for second place in the Boys 15 to 18 division.
Braeden Robley (39-38-77) and Bryden Salvador (40-39-79) rounded out the leaders of that division.
The Boys 15-18 division was the largest field in the tournament and peppered with familiar Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation golfers,z including Jamie Amimoto (40-45-85), Jacob Dysinger (46-53-99), Daniel Miller (50-49-99), Michael Miller (44-42-86), Jordan Serrano (53-52-105), Vance Tokita (55-53-108) and Kawika Wellington (43-43-86).
Daezsa Tomas, crossing on a tie at even par 36 with Keilyn Ing, stayed ahead of the field, firing the back nine with a 40 to end with 76 (36-40) to lead the Girls 15 to 18 division over Na‘ea Oda, a freshman at Kapa‘a High School who finished sixth at the David Ishii/HHSAA girls state championship, ended in second place with a 79 (37-42) with Ing in third place a stroke behind Oda (36-44-80). Taylor Viquelia, the Kaua‘i High School standout who topped the KJGA Spring Classic Tournament in April, struggled over the course, finishing with an 87 (44-43), out of the running. Sabrina Barrier, a golfer with Kaua‘i High School, withdrew from the tournament and Jenae Park (50-50-100) rounded out the field.
Trevor Kua, whose older brother is a University of Hawai‘i golf standout, topped the Boys 13-14 division with a one-over par 73 (37-36) followed three strokes back by Kainalu Gandia (36-40-76) and Keith Jose (43-41-84) who ended tied with Rilen Loo (40-44-84).
Nathaniel Dama rounded out the division on a 102 (48-54).
Samantha Nichols was the sole Girls 13-14 player, finishing with a 107 (58-49) after being paired with Salisa Pegeder, the sole Girls 11-12 golfer who ended with a 110 (55-55).
Reece Valencia breezed through the Puakea with an 87 (41-46) to top the Boys 11-12 division followed by A.J. Apalla (46-49-95) and Justice Chatfield (52-60-112).
Christian Ganir, firing a 43 on the front nine, stayed ahead of the field to end with an 87 (43-44) for top honors in the Boys 10 and Under division. Niki Upson (53-47-100) and James Pratt (53-49-102) rounded out the field.
Next on the KJGA calendar of tournaments is the annual Chica Ishii Tournament, June 2, 3 and 9 at the Wailua Golf Course. The 54-hole stroke play is for all age divisions.
Visit www.kjga.org for more information.
