Kacie Komoto of Honolulu fired a 4-under par 68 to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur Sectional Qualifier played at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course. Kristina Merkle, also of Honolulu, followed a stroke back at 69 to clinch the second of
Kacie Komoto of Honolulu fired a 4-under par 68 to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur Sectional Qualifier played at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course.
Kristina Merkle, also of Honolulu, followed a stroke back at 69 to clinch the second of three spots to the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championships which will play Aug. 6 through 12 at The Country Club in Cleveland, Ohio.
Alina Ching of Honolulu ended in a four-way tie for the third spot, finishing with a 1-over par 73 along with Allisen Corpuz, Anna Jang and Brittany Yada of Hilo, Hawai‘i.
Ching clinched the third spot by winning the playoff on the first hole.
Taylor Viquelia, the strong Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation golfer from Kaua‘i High School, had the best showing for the home girls. Viquelia ended in 20th position with a 79.
Daezsa Tomas of Lihu‘e finished in a tie for 25th with Ginny Latham of Koloa, both golfers carding 85.
The visiting golfers from the Philippines, Princess Mary Superal of Dasmarinas Cavite ended in a three-way tie for seventh place with Eimi Koga and Marissa Chow, both of Honolulu, by carding 2-over par 74.
Sarah Ababa of Davao City, Philippines ended a stroke back at 10th place.
Nina Fairbairn, one of two golfers from California, ended in a tie for 13th place with Alice Kim, Hansol Koo, Mariel Galdiano and Michelle Condry at 77.
Kristina Lynn of Carlsbad, Calif. ended in a tie for 18th with Bianca Miyuki Armanini of Wailuku, Maui at 78, a stroke ahead of Viquelia.
The women played over a challenging 6,1217 yards at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
