From TGI Reports – Hawai’i Junior Golf Championship qualifier on Kaua’i June 13-14. The best young golfers in the state will be on Kaua’i over the next few days, hoping to qualify for one of the most prestigious junior events
From TGI Reports – Hawai’i Junior Golf
Championship qualifier on Kaua’i June 13-14.
The best young golfers in the state will be on Kaua’i over the next few days, hoping to qualify for one of the most prestigious junior events in the world.
Wailua Golf Course and Kaua’i Lagoons will host the state’s hopefuls, June 13-14, as they compete in the Hawai’i Qualifier for the Junior World Golf Championships. The championships, which are broken into five age groups, will be held July 17-20, in San Diego.
Of the 208 youngsters competing – including 52 from Kaua’i – in the Hawai’i Qualifier, just 41 will qualify to compete in San Diego.
The Hawai’i State Junior Golf Association is hosting the Hawai’i Qualifier. Juniors in the 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12 age divisions will play at Wailua Golf Course. Those youngsters in the 13-14 and 15-17 age group will play at Kaua’i Lagoons Mokihana course. In all age divisions, boys and girls will compete separately.
Juniors will be allowed a practice round at both courses on June 12. Tournament rounds begin at 6:30 a.m. at Wailua G.C. and 7 a.m. at Kaua’i Lagoons.
Kira-Ann Murashige, Stephanie Kono, Kimberly Kim and Kaira Martin were trophy winners at last year’s Junior World Championship, and are exempt into the San Diego field.
Eleven-year-old phenom Michelle Wie is expected to be in the field this week. Wie took the state by storm in mid-May when she won the prestigious Jennie K. Wilson tournament on Oahu.
Among former participants in the Junior World Championships are Nick Price, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
For more information, call the HSJGA at 532-0559.
Here are the Kaua’i kids scheduled to compete in the Hawai’i Qualifier (age division in parenthesis):
7-8 age division
Kelli Oride, Shea Shimabukuro
9-10 age division
Taylor Bell, Rae-Lyn Morikawa, Cory Oride, Makana Sakihama, Travis Shigeta, Wiley Yoshioka
11-12 age division
Jordan Cox, T.J. Kua, Kainoa Lemke, Jet Levinthol, Vaughn Meatoga, Royce Overlook, Grant Paiste, Byron Rualizo, Kanoe Sakihama, Nikkoi Tacsiat, Travis Toguchi, Noel Torres, Miki Ueoka, Micah Yoshioka
13-14 age division
Abraham Akutagawa, Mary Akutagawa, Allan Baab, Terra Bell, Robyn Caycayon, Cory French, Mike Garcia, Mason Koetje, Scott Dean Lopez, Tyruss Lum, Justin McSheehy, Layne Morita, Bret Netzer, Chad Nonaka, Stephen Peeren, Reece Senda, Kellen Watabu, Kimberly Yama, Shelcie Takenouchi
15-17 age division
A.J. Basuel, Chris Caycayon, Jesse Cooper, Kiilani Matsuyoshi, Landon Peeren, Jennie Pleas, Juston Thomas, Billy Toy, Casey Watabu, Lehua Wise, Erick Wong
The Skinny
– What: Junior World Championships – Hawai’i Qualifier
– Who: 208 golfers in five age divisions – 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and 15-17
– When: June 13-14
– Where: Wailua Golf Course and Kaua’i Lagoons Mokihana Golf Course
– At Stake: 41 slots available to Hawai’i in championships July 17-20 in San Diego
