LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i’s Ayven Labuguen was tied for the lead with Jason Uno at 93 following the first round of the Kaua‘i Junior Championships, Saturday at the Puakea Golf Course.
But the early morning Sunday squall dampened Labuguen’s game while Uno shot a 6-over 78 to claim the Boys 7-10 Flight honor over Laguguen’s efforts that landed him in third place with a two-day 189 after his final round 96 strokes.
Uno was joined by other flight winners, including Leo Saito of the Big Island who finished the Kaua‘i Junior Championship with the tournament’s best performance, closing 1-under par following a 3-under 69 during the final round of the Boys 11-12 Flight.
Other winners of the tournament included Jake Otani topping the Boys 13-14 Flight, and Tyler Tamayori staying four strokes ahead of Chance Wilson in the Boys 15-18 Flight.
On the girls’ field, Nicole Oda topped the Girls 7-10 Flight, and Kira Uno owned the Girls 11-12 Flight.
Kate Nakaoka of Mililani, O‘ahu was a stroke better than Ava Cepeda in the Girls 13-14 Flight despite Cepeda charging to a round-best 3-over 75 in the final round. Nakaoka, taking a 76 lead in the first 18 holes, held on to fire the second-best final round 78 to take the flight on a 154, a stroke better than Cepeda.
Kara Kaneshiro finished the two-day play even par 144 following a 3-under 69 on the final round to take the Girls 15-18 Flight four strokes better than Jasmine Wong.
The Hawai‘i State Junior Golf Association/First Tee-Hawai‘i hosted 59 junior golfers from across the state, vying for points that lead to the HSJGA Player of the Year, and the race to the HSJGA Tour Championships that contests on Maui in December, a golf event that is by invitation only to the top finishers on the HSJGA/FTH Points List from throughout the season.
The boys and girls in the 7-10 Flight played to a par 72 over 4,800 yards, and the boys and girls in the 11-12 Flight played to a par 72 over 5,225 yards. Boys and girls in the 13-14 Flight, and the Girls 15-18 Flight played to a par 72 over 6,061 yards. The Boys 15-18 Flight played to a par 72 over 6,950 yards.
Results
• Boys 7-10 Flight: Jason Uno (93 Rd 1, 78 Rd 2, 171 total), Lenny Saito (96-84-180), Ayven Labuguen (93-96-189), Kyle Schmidt (97-94-191), Tre Tydingco (117-112-229).
• Boys 11-12 Flight: Leo Saito (74-69-143), Isaac Kim (74-76-150), Brycen James Massey (77-76-153), Drew Tom (72-81-153), George Taylor (80-78-158), Jacob Schmidt (81-82-163), Levi Swanson (89-88-177), Caleb Ito (84-95-179), Judah Gordon (97-105-202), Shane Murphy (103-111-214), Adrian Smith (110-108-218).
• Boys 13-14 Flight: Jake Otani (76-73-149), Gunnar Lee (79-75-154), Graham Morgan (83-79-162), Chris Jobe (79-91-170), Caleb Taba (86-90-176), Renyn Lee (103-106-209).
• Boys 15-18 Flight: Tyler Tamayori (74-77-151), Chance Wilson (78-77-155), Justin Todd (80-78-158).
• Girls 7-10 Flight: Nicole Oda (82-78-160), Cassidy Chang (90-84-174), Makayla Yonemura (94-91-185), Lucy Cui (103-85-188), Lauryn Lee (92-99-191).
• Girls 11-12 Flight: Kira Uno (76-78-154), Sakura Ramirez (84-82-166), Megan George (89-83-172), Caitlyn Matsunaga (87-90-177), Olivia Schmidt (89-90-179).
• Girls 13-14 Flight: Kate Nakaoka (76-78-154), Ava Cepeda (80-75-155), Samantha Moore (83-81-154), Alexa Takai (84-83-167), Sydney Fuke (83-85-168), Mariko Yonemura (89-81-170), Mia Nakaoka (87-85-172), Hudson Omori (89-89-178), Sydney Ito (118-111-229).
• Girls 15-18 Flight: Kara Kaneshiro (75-69-144), Jasmine Wong (77-71-148), Raya Nakao (75-75-150), Teal Matsueda (75-75-150), Madison Kuratani (81-73-154), Mia Cepeda (74-81-155), Nicole Tanoue (73-82-155), Mira Kubo (79-80-159), Kirsten Hall (81-80-159), Samantha Murphy (105-98-203), Leilani Redondo (101-109-210).
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
