LIHU‘E — Kanoa Naumu guarded his opening round 77 against the challenge of Graham Morgan of Kilauea on Sunday during the final round of the Hawai‘i State Junior Golf Kaua‘i Junior Classic tournament at the Puakea Golf Course.
Playing in the Boys 11-12 Flight in humid, misty conditions, Graham rebounded from his first day 84 to finish with an improvement of five strokes in the final round. The effort fell short as Naumu was awarded the top trophy with a two-day total 157 (77-80), six strokes ahead of Morgan’s 163 (84-79).
“This is Kanoa’s first year of golf,” said Lauren Yama of the HSJGA. “It’s also his first tournament. There’s a crowd of Kaua‘i golfers in that flight. Seven of the eight players in that flight are from Kaua‘i.”
The HSJGA Kaua‘i Junior Classic, presented by Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative and AES Corp. featured Junior golfers from around the state competing in a 36-hole stroke play for points distributed for HSJGA Player of the Year honors. The tournament also grants entry to the coveted Michelle Wie HSJGA Tournament of Champions on Maui that will contest in December.
Playing under state and county COVID-19 safety rules and guidelines, the field of golfers also played in accordance with procedures written under the PGA Aloha Section’s “Back2Golf Guideline” that was written for the safety of Hawai‘i’s golf industry with approval from the state and county agencies.
Sydney Ito of Lawa‘i was the sole Kaua‘i golfer in the Girls 13-14 Flight, finishing third to Kate Nakaoka of Mililani, O‘ahu who captured the flight on a two-day 151 (79-72), and Sydney Fuke of Kailua, O‘ahu who ended with a 182 (90-92). Ito finished with a 244 (124-120).
Results
• Boys 7-10 Flight: Leo Saito (72-79-151), Carson Kage (76-80-156), Brycen James Massey (80-82-162), Caleb Ito (101-96-197), Ike Tydingco (97-113-210), Keola Earle (105-105-210).
• Boys 11-12 Flight: Kanoa Naumu (77-80-157), Graham Morgan (84-79-163), Caleb Taba (89-90-179), Jian Ballesteros (90-99-189), Jacob Schmidt (96-96-192), Rykur Lee (102-91-193), Renyn Lee (123-106-229), Judah Gordon (122-117-239).
• Girls 11-12 Flight: Jacey Kage (75-73-148), Kady Matsumoto (78-75-153), Samantha Monroe (82-80-162), Kira Uno (84-81-165), Mia Nakaoka (86-85-171), Olivia Schmidt (99-99-158).
• Girls 13-14 Flight: Kate Nakaoka (79-72-151), Sydney Fuke (90-92-182), Sydney Ito (124-120-244).
• Boys 15-18 Flight: Dane Watanabe (71-73-144), Miles Atkinson (77-77-154), Tyler Tamayori (76-81-157), Chance Wilson (84-78-162), Justin Todd (75-88-163), Kameron Lee (92-94-186).
• Girls 15-18 Flight: Jayla Yadao (75-77-152), Ferrari Dudoit (80-74-154).