PO‘IPU — Taylor Viquelia of Koloa fired a one-over par 73 to stay four strokes ahead of Aiko Leong of Honolulu and capture the Girls 15-18 division of the 2012 Kiahuna Junior Classic, Sunday at the Kiahuna Golf Club. Hosted
PO‘IPU — Taylor Viquelia of Koloa fired a one-over par 73 to stay four strokes ahead of Aiko Leong of Honolulu and capture the Girls 15-18 division of the 2012 Kiahuna Junior Classic, Sunday at the Kiahuna Golf Club.
Hosted by the Hawai‘i State Junior Golf Association, Viquelia led the field with a three-over par 75 Saturday before wrapping up the division with a two-day 148, four strokes ahead of Leong (76-76-152) who was on Kaua‘i last week for the 2012 Mixed Team Championships at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course.
Leong also anchors the No. 6 spot for the Girls 13-18 HSJGA points standings with 1970 points before entering the 2012 Kiahuna Junior Classic.
With the win, Viquelia earns a spot on the Michelle Wie Tournament of Champions tournament which will play Dec. 15 and 16 at the Wailea Golf Club — Emerald Course.
All of the age division winners earn a spot to the Michelle Wie Tournament of Champions, according to an HSJGA release.
The big goal of the 2012 Kiahuna Junior Classic was a spot on the team for the Asia Pacific Junior Cup which will play Nov. 1 through 3 at the Waikoloa Kings’ Course.
Kenji Miyata of Kapa‘a, entering the tournament with 894 points, had a shot for the team, playing the Kiahuna Golf Club with Andrew Paisley of Kamuela, Hawai‘i Island, who had 889 points entering the tournament.
Pono Tokioka of Lihu‘e, sitting with 890 points, did not enter the tournament because of his participation in 2012 World Deaf Golf Championships at the Tsu Country Club in Japan.
“I think Pono comes home tonight (Sunday),” said Wayne Miyata, Kenji’s father and a HSJGA volunteer. “Pono ended the tournament in eighth place out of 55 men on an aggregate score of 323 (86-78-74-85) and was one of the youngest players in the tournament.”
The WDGC Japan tournament wrapped up Oct. 12 and Wayne said it would have been nice if Pono was playing in the Kiahuna tournament, but the WDGC tournament is especially important to Pono.
“Last year, Kenji and Pono both were able to participate in the Asia Pacific Cup and it is a very good tournament because you play against some of the top players from Japan and China,” Wayne said. “It is also one of the tournaments where the players get a lot of help from the HSJGA.”
Paisley took the lead Saturday, firing a four-over par 76 while Kenji ended in third with an 82.
But the Kapa‘a High School golfer rebounded and despite the brisk winds blowing off the Kipu mountain range, fired the best round for the Boys 15-18 division, Sunday at a two-over par 74 for a two-day aggregate 156.
Paisley kept up, improving on his opening round 76 to finish with a 75 for a two-day aggregate 151 and claim the division by five strokes over Kenji.
Bryden Salvador of Kilauea (87-77-164), Colby Takushi (81-84-165) of Pearl City, O‘ahu, Jordan Hinau (90-82-172) of Wailuku, Maui, Jamie Amimoto (90-83-173) of Lihu‘e, Michael Milton (90-95-185) of Mililani, O‘ahu, and Tyler Barton (103-93-196) of Princeville rounded out the division.
Following Viquelia and Leong in the Girls 15-18 division, Zoey Akagi-Bustin (81-79-160) of Wahiawa, O‘ahu, Daezsa Tomas (84-81-165) of Lihu‘e, Alanis Sakuma (84-82-166) of Kapolei, O‘ahu and Hi‘ilani Rosa-Alana (91-99-190) of Lihu‘e, who teamed with Barton and Remington Hirano of Honolulu in last week’s 2012 Mixed Team Championships, rounded out the field.
Keegan Loo, leading the Boys 13-14 division Saturday with a two-over par 74, dropped the lead to Desmond La‘akea Mello (80-74-154) of Kaneohe, O‘ahu. Keegan, of Lihu‘e, finished with a 160 (74-86) followed by Hirano (87-78-165) and Trevor Kua (81-86-167) of Lihu‘e.
Keegan’s brother Rilen played in the Boys 11-12 division which was won by Taylor John McGerity (86-76-162) of Honolulu followed by Acey Yanagishita (85-82-167) of Honolulu, Andrew Otani (86-86-172) and Rilen (90-89-179).
Millburn Ho (78-81-159) of Honolulu used some long putts to seal the Girls 11-12 division followed by Allysha Mae Mateo (81-81-162) of Mililani, O‘ahu, Samantha Keppel (82-85-167) of Honolulu, Sara Keppel (87-85-172) of Honolulu and Minny Byun (93-92-185) of Honolulu.
Jacob Kiyoshi Torres (80-80-160) of Aiea topped the Boys 7-10 division over Christian Ganir (97-98-195) of Kapa‘a. James Pratt of Lihu‘e held a 106 round before withdrawing, Sunday.
Visit www.hsjga.org for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
