Kade Kikuchi of Lihue, playing in the boys 11-12 group, dropped two strokes Sunday at the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association 14 and Under Junior Tour Series at the Kahili Golf Course in Wailuku, Maui.
The performance dropped him from his second finish Saturday, where he ended the par 72, 5,359-yard course with a 76, a stroke back of leader Reagan James Miles of Kihei, Maui, who ended with a 75.
Sunday, Kikuchi slipped to a 78 for a two-round total 154, good enough for a tie for second with Ben Cafferio of Wailuku, who blasted the course for a 74 from his opening-round 80.
Kikuchi’s and Cafferio’s 154 was three strokes off the lead by Miles, who finished the tournament at 151 (75-76), a stroke better than fourth-place finisher Tyler Tamayori of Pearl City, Oahu, who carded a two-day 155 (80-75).
Kiara Johnson, playing in the girls 11-12 age group, was the other golfer from Kauai in the tournament, finishing the two days at 188 (94-94) for fifth place. Teal Matsueda of Honolulu topped that division with a 151 (75-76).
Joshua Hayashida of Mililani topped the boys 13-14 grouping with a 157 (79-78) over the course that played 6,570 yards for that age group. He was tied by Jaehn Ethan of Waikoloa, Big Island, who finished with identical rounds.
Kaily Oki of Hilo took the girls 13-14 grouping with a one-stroke win over Chloe Jang of Honolulu, Oki carding a 159 (74-85) to Jang’s 160 (78-82).
Kate Nakaoka of Mililani topped the girls 7-10 with a 158 (78-80) over the 4,573 yards.
The HSJGA 14 and Under Junior Tour Series-Maui is the first tournament of the season.
Next on the HSJGA calendar is the Hawaii Junior Golf Day on March 24 when three golf courses on Kauai — Kiahuna Golf Club, Puakea Golf Course and the Princeville Makai Golf Club, work with Aloha Section Professional Golf Association and the Ladies Professional Golf Association professionals to provide an opportunity for new and beginning golfers, ages 5 through 18, to learn and hone their skills for free.
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. followed by the free kids golf clinic by PGA and LPGA professionals from 9 to 11 a.m. Refreshments will be provided, along with certificates of completion and a tee prize for golfers to take home.
Parents will receive information on how to get their children started in junior golf in Hawaii through the “Roadmap to Junior Golf,” which will be distributed.
