WAILUA — Kapa‘a’s Kenji Miyata roared to a four-under par 32 on the back nine, Saturday, finishing the day with a one-under par 71 (39-32) at Wailua Golf Course. Teammate Landen Ishida finished with a one-under par 35 on the
WAILUA — Kapa‘a’s Kenji Miyata roared to a four-under par 32 on the back nine, Saturday, finishing the day with a one-under par 71 (39-32) at Wailua Golf Course.
Teammate Landen Ishida finished with a one-under par 35 on the back nine en route to a total 76 (41-35).
The tandem effort gave the Kapa‘a High School boys the round at 305 (71-76-77-81), just five strokes ahead of Kaua‘i High School boys at 310 (80-78-75-77).
“If the boys don’t make it, we’ll have the title round combined with the first round of the state qualifying round,” said Kaua‘i coach Glenn Tamagawa, while watching the teams make the cross under calm, but humid conditions.
The Kapa‘a boys’ win keeps the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation golf title up for grabs when the high school teams tee off the first of two qualifying rounds April 19 at Wailua Golf Course.
“I made some errors out there,” said Miyata as he approached the crossing. “But I also made some birdies. If I can get past this hole (No. 9) in good shape, hopefully, I’ll get back on the road.”
Miyata’s second shot from the fairway dropped on the green, and a two-putt sent him on his way to the back nine.
Joining Miyata and Ishida, Kapa‘a got a 77 (38-39) from Bryden Salvador and an 81 (43-38) from Kainalu Gandia.
Other Warrior individualists on the course included Kawika Wellington (42-42-84), Anthony Aiwohi (44-45-89) and Justin Donios (60-69-129).
Jamie Amimoto led the Kaua‘i High School boys’ scoring of 310 with a 75 (38-37), the second straight week Amimoto has taken the lead. He was followed by Braeden Robley carding a 77 (39-38), two strokes off the Raiders’ pace.
Kai Adachi added a 78 (41-37), just a stroke back of Robley and Trevor Kua (42-38-80) rounded out the scoring.
Pono Tokioka, struggling to regain his top spot for Kaua‘i, finished the round at 83 (41-42).
Vance Tokita (42-44), Jacob Viquelia (46-40) and Keith Jose (42-44) all tied at 86, and Jeremy Felizardo ended at 89 (46-43). Lucas Gushikuma (41-49-90) and Ian Castro (57-58-115) rounded out the Kaua‘i boys’ showing.
Waimea High School fielded Tresten Nakashima (40-43-83) and Tevin Vidinha-Flores (64-62-126), insufficient for a team score.
Island School, enjoying its spring break, was led by Michael Miller (39-37-76), Adam Sclafani (47-50-97) and Jacob Dysinger (53-45-98), insufficient for a team score.
Daezsa Tomas, crossing a stroke off the pace set by Taylor Viquelia, charged the back nine for a one-under 35 en route to finishing with a 74 (39-35) to lead the Kaua‘i girls to a 242 team scoring and clinch the KIF girls golf title over Waimea girls who finished with 285.
Viquelia finished three strokes off the girls’ pace at 77 (38-39) followed by Jenae Park (46-45-91) and Randi Oxentine (49-54-103).
Waimea senior Mariah Paiste led the Menehune girls with an 85 (43-42) followed by junior Kawena Warren (46-45-91), whose older brother La‘akea, a senior and member of the Kamehameha-Kapalama golf team, enjoying his spring break by chipping balls while the KIF golfers crossed.
“He’s on the final week of spring break,” said Jeannie Warren, the students’ mom. “He couldn’t come back right away because he had a tournament. He went back again for another tournament, and just came back home before leaving on Sunday.”
Samantha Nichols rounded out the Waimea girls’ scoring at 109 (55-54).
Na‘ea Oda was the sole Kapa‘a girl on the course, finishing at 88 (50-38). Kari Whitworth was the sole Island School girl, finishing the course at 93 (45-48).
The KIF golfers return to Wailua Golf Course April 19 and 20 for the qualifying rounds, the Red Raider boys and the Warrior boys also battling for the KIF boys golf title April 19.
Tee time for the first group is scheduled for noon on both days.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
