LIHUE — Waimea’s Samantha Nichols battled bogeys all day in the brisk trade winds Saturday during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation Golf, Round No. 3 at the Puakea Golf Course. Her worst situation came on the opening hole where she triple-bogeyed.
LIHUE — Waimea’s Samantha Nichols battled bogeys all day in the brisk trade winds Saturday during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation Golf, Round No. 3 at the Puakea Golf Course.
Her worst situation came on the opening hole where she triple-bogeyed. But she saved her game with pars to finish with an 88 (40-48) for the top score in the girls field.
Kauai’s Trevor Kua, indicating his commitment to play golf for the University of Hawaii at Hilo, coped with the opening hole as the only golfer in the KIF field to birdie the Par 4 hole.
Kua marked the best score of the field, finishing with a two-over par 74 (38-36) after waging a battle between birdies and bogeys in the brisk wind. Kua also led the Kauai High School boys team to its second win with a team total 315 which included scores from Kua, Keith Jose (39-39-78), Jacob Viquelia (37-43-80), Deven Kimoto (39-44-83) and Christian Ganir (40-43-80).
Kainalu Gandia, coming from assisting at the Hawaii Junior Golf Day event earlier in the morning, set the pace for the Kapaa boys, finishing with an 83 (40-43) toward the Warriors’ 374 team total. The score included the performances by Gandia, Kekoa Eisenhour (48-47-95), Kaimana Zarbaugh (51-46-97), Micah Barretto (51-48-99) and Dylan DeSilva (54-48-102).
Waimea boys rounded out the team scoring at 467, led by Wesley Fujinaka making his first appearance on the course at 96 (49-47), Braden Kobayashi (59-54-113), James Caudill (59-57-116) and Hunter Ragasa (65-77-142).
Island School fielded individualists with Reece Valencia finishing the field in the top 10 at 89 (47-42) and Kilikai Ahuna ending the day at 108 (53-55).
Despite Nichols’ low score, the Menehune girls finished second, 12 strokes behind Kauai High School girls who carded a team total 304.
Kauai High School girls were led by Kiri Oshiro (56-44-100), Dillyn Sakai (52-49-101), Tyra Oshiro (51-52-103), and Malia Olsen (79-79-158).
Following Nichols, Waimea girl golfers included Bailee Taeza (54-57-111), Daneica Muraoka (59-58-117) and Kelsey Tomimoto (62-72-134) toward its 316 team total.
Kapaa girls rounded out the field at 369, led by Samantha Coloma (54-58-112), Keegan Kessler (59-57-116), Sophia Rodriguez (72-69-141) and Rachel Pleas (72-74-146).
KIF golf takes a break during the Easter weekend, resuming play on April 2 when the first groupings tee off at noon at the Poipu Bay Golf Course.