PO‘IPU — Justin Ngan of Maui fired a hole-in-one at the Kiahuna Golf Course No. 16 (97 yards) using an 8 iron (half-swing) at the 2009 Kiahuna Junior Classic. But Kyosuke Hara of Honolulu was well in the lead and
PO‘IPU — Justin Ngan of Maui fired a hole-in-one at the Kiahuna Golf Course No. 16 (97 yards) using an 8 iron (half-swing) at the 2009 Kiahuna Junior Classic.
But Kyosuke Hara of Honolulu was well in the lead and sewed up the 9-10 Boys division with a two-day 149 total (76-73). Ngan finished four strokes off the pace at 153 (73-80) below Shawn Lu of Honolulu (78-73-151).
That was the largest division in the two-day tournament that opened Saturday under what Hawai‘i State Junior Golf Association officials described as “cloudy and very rainy.” The weather improved on Sunday as sprinkles punctuated periods of sunshine and trades quickly dried out clothes and equipment damped by the passing mist.
Also in that 9-10 Boys division, Ikaika Bernardino of Waianae, O‘ahu, was playing his first tournament, keeping up with his foursome, the walking recorder noted. Bernardino finished with a two-day total of 196 (94-102).
Kaua‘i golfers rounded out the division as Logan Gibson (110-96-206), Douglas Sears (108-100-208) and Rilen Loo (126-95-221) finished in 11th through 13th place, respectively.
Reece Valencia (94-112-206) finished in third place in the 7-8 Boys division below Christian “Pono” Yanagi (88-92-180) of Hilo and Taylor John McGerity (88-96-184) of Honolulu.
Naea Oda (95-101-196) and Kalau Tanaka-Pesamino (102-105) locked up the No. 1 and 2 slots of the 11-12 Girls, the pair coming off two days of the Atlanta-Kaua‘i Team Challenge at the Wailua Golf Course.
In that event, Team Kaua‘i ended up dropping to Team Atlanta 48.5 to 15.5.
Keegan Loo (78-88-166) finished fourth in the 11-12 Boys division that was won by Jino Sohn (76-76-152) of Honolulu. Loo was followed by Bryden Salvador of Kilauea (86-86-172) in fifth place and Keith Jose (103-103-206) in eighth.
Taylor Viquelia (84-80-164) finished third in the 13-14 Girls division that was taken by Ciera Min (74-81-155) of Hilo. Daezsa Tomas, who along with Viquelia were in the Atlanta Challenge earlier in the week, finished seventh with a 194 (100-94).
Pono Tokioka (77-74-151) finished seven strokes off the pace in the 13-14 Boys group that was won by Kalena Preus (72-72-144) of Honolulu. Reyn Morioka (77-86-163) finished sixth, Braeden Robley (87-84-171) finished eighth, five strokes better than Ken Miyata (88-88-176) in ninth. La‘akea Warren (90-92-182) finished 11th in the division.
Kelli Oride, named as an HP Scholastic Junior All-American, finished 10 strokes off the pace, dropping the 15-18 Girls division to Cassy Isagawa (73-75-148) of Maui. Oride finished at 158 (78-80).
Kyle Groves of Kapa‘a rounded out the Kaua‘i golfers in the tournament, Groves finishing seventh at 190 (105-85) in the 15-18 Boys division that was taken by Michael Fan (75-76-151) of Pearl City, O‘ahu.
This tournament was the last opportunity for junior golfers to earn points toward Player of the Year as well as earn an invitation to play in the 2009 Ulupalakua Tournament of Champions, Dec. 5-6 at the Wailea Golf Club on Maui, states a HSJGA release.
