LIHUE — Kade Kikuchi of Lihue shaved six strokes off his opening day round to take the Boys 11-12 flight at the Kauai Junior Classic golf tournament presented by the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association at the Hokuala Golf Club.
“I just over-clubbed today,” the young golfer said. “I had a terrible opening round (eight-over 80). I tried not to think about it and just played safe.”
Kikuchi finished the tournament with a 10-over 154 (80-74) to top the flight, four strokes over Ben Caffefrio of Maui who suffered on the No. 16 with two out-of-bounds. Cafferio had taken the lead by four strokes over Kikuchi following the first round, but stuttered on the final day to finish with an 82 for a two-day 158 (76-82).
Ryan Chang of Lihue and Chance Wilson of Princeville, other golfers in the flight, finished with a 183 (87-96) and 194 (94-100), respectively for fifth and sixth places.
Kade’s younger sister Heiley ended the tournament with a 178 (87-91) in the Girls 7-10 Flight that was taken by Honrine Nobuta of Honolulu firing a 172 (83-89). Rianna Chang of Lihue finished the flight at 205 (95-110) in the tournament that was hosted by the Hokuala Golf Club for the first time.
“The Jack Nicklaus-designed Ocean Course proved to be a tough, yet fair test for the top young golfers in the state,” said Ryan Toole, the HSJGA tournament director. “Players participating could earn valuable points that count towards the HSJGA Player of the Year, and others were looking for a coveted spot on the HSJGA Asia Pacific Junior Cup Hawaii Team.”
Kiara Johnson finished the tournament at 185 (88-97) for third place in the Girls 11-12 flight that was taken by Raya Nakao of Kaneohe, Oahu finishing with 150 (75-75).
Rachael Wang of Honolulu topped the Girls 13-14 flight on a 159 (84-75) to finish two strokes better than Summer Wong of Haiku, Maui (80-81-161), and Lana Calibuso-Kwee of Wailuku, Maui fired a four-under 68, Sunday to soar to a two-under 142 (74-68) in the Girls 15-18 flight where Kauai’s Taryn Taguma filled in sixth place with a 172 (86-86).
Peter Jung of Honolulu fired even par Saturday and hung on to claim the Boys 15-18 flight by one stroke over Jake Sequin of Honolulu. Jung finished with a four-over 76, Sunday, a stroke back of Sequin, but held on for a two-day 148 (72-76) over Sequin’s 149 (74-75).
Devin Kimoto of Lihue (89-90-179) filled in the third spot followed by Jaydon Kyono of Kalaheo (92-90-182) rounded out that flight’s leaderboard.
Joshua Hayashida of Mililani, Oahu topped the Boys 13-14 flight with a six-under 138 (71-67) after peeling off a five-under 67, Sunday. Marshall Kim of Honolulu finished second in the flight with a one-under 143 (73-70).
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
