For the Kaua‘i High School girls golf team, winning a state title has been their main focus, especially with recent successes. The Red Raiders have won the past two of five state championships, with the last one coming in 2004.
For the Kaua‘i High School girls golf team, winning a state title has been their main focus, especially with recent successes.
The Red Raiders have won the past two of five state championships, with the last one coming in 2004.
The strong play of Jennie Pleas (Nevada) and Ki‘ilani Matsuyoshi (UH-Hilo), who are both golfing at the collegiate level, led the 2004 surge at the Wailua Golf Course.
In 2000, Rachel Kyono took the individual title before heading off to a brilliant career at Pepperdine.
Since 1999, neighbor island teams have dominated, with BIIF schools, Hilo and Waiakea trading state titles, along with Kaua‘i. The 2006 David S. Ishii Foundation/HHSAA Girls State Golf Championships begin Tuesday and run through Wednesday at the Turtle Bay Fazio Course on O‘ahu.
On each day, individuals will golf 18 holes to find both a team and individual champion.
Kaua‘i’s strong hopeful for an individual crown will be in the hands of Miki Ueoka, who should come home with a medal.
The top 15 girls will receive a medal, with a gold for the top finisher and a silver for the runner-up.
Rae-Lyn Morikawa, Kristi Rapozo, and Angel Miyake will also be heading to states for the KIF champions.
Kapa‘a’s Malia Saiki and Cheyene Barretto, along with Waimea’s Leslyn Ibara round out the other state entrants for the KIF.
Waiakea won last year’s state title, with Christine Kim taking home the individual championship at The Dunes at Maui Lani.
The boys state tournament is scheduled for May 16-17 at the Turtle Bay Palmer Course.
• Duane Shimogawa Jr., sports editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kauaisports@kauaipubco.com.
