PO‘IPU — Kaua‘i High School’s Pono Tokioka fired an even-par 72 to lead the Red Raider boys to its victory Saturday during the opening round of Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation golf at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course. On the girls’ course,
PO‘IPU — Kaua‘i High School’s Pono Tokioka fired an even-par 72 to lead the Red Raider boys to its victory Saturday during the opening round of Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation golf at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course.
On the girls’ course, Kaua‘i’s Taylor Viquelia posted a 79 to lead the girls’ team to a three-person total of 251.
Tokioka’s 72 (37-35) was joined by three other Red Raider boys — Jamie Amimoto (40-44-84), Trevor Kua (42-44-86) and Kai Adachi (45-44-89) — toward its team total of 331.
The Kapa‘a Warriors, led by Kainalu Gandia (40-41-81) followed in the team standings eight strokes back at 339. Joining Gandia, were Kapa‘a standouts Kenji Miyata (41-44-85), Kawika Wellington (41-45-86) and Bryden Salvador (43-44-87), with the scores provided by Kapa‘a coach Juston Thomas.
Island School (which also fielded their first wahine female golfer in KIF history with junior Kari Whitworth), finished the boys team scoring at 466 led by Jacob Dysinger (49-49-98), Michael Miller (51-55-106), Adam Sclafani (59-56-115) and Josh Miller (71-76-147).
Waimea High School failed to post a boys team score when two of its team members did not play in the Saturday opener. Wesley Carter-Fujinaka was the top Menehune boys golfer with a 120 (57-63), followed by Derek Callejo a stroke back at 121 (57-64) and Tevin Vidinha-Flores (67-64-131).
Whitworth, working the Par 3 Hole No. 3, dropped her wind-whipped tee shot into the sand. Her bunker shot settled off the bunker lip where she promptly whacked it with her putter, the ball clanging off the post before dropping in to save par on the hole.
“I didn’t know whether or not to get my chipper,” the excited Island School golfer said. “But I just used by putter and it went in.”
Whitworth finished with a 98 (48-50).
Viquelia topped the Kaua‘i girls, rolling off with a 79 (40-39) followed by Daezsa Tomas, coming off a stint as manager for the Kaua‘i girls basketball team, who hit an 80 (40-40). Hi‘ilani Alana, a freshman, finished at 92 (46-46), with Janae Park rounding out the Red Raider field with a 107 (49-58).
“She walked past her ball,” Alana’s father said while watching the freshman come up the No. 2 fairway.
“She was part of the Junior Varsity girls paddling team which just won the KIF title (in that division). Now, she’s golfing. She was doing some Junior Golf tournaments and can drive off the tee.”
Alana, recovering from the walk-by, drove the ball, which got lost in the bushes off the cart path. Frustrated after not being able to locate the ball, Alana was heading back to her former lie when coach Glenn Tamagawa and Kaua‘i athletic director Ross Shimabukuro located the ball buried in the trees.
The young golfer fired out of the brush, her ball bouncing off the cart path and on a trajectory back to the bush. But Alana salvaged the play and finished without delaying the group.
Na‘ea Oda was the sole girls golfer for Kapa‘a, finishing the day on an 81 (38-43).
Mariah Paiste posted an 88 (43-45) for the Waimea girls after Samantha Nichols did not finish. Kawena Warren showed up, but a cold bug sent her home after just a few hits off the driving range.
Other golfers in action for Kaua‘i included Braeden Robley (44-56-100), Keith Jose (47-44-91), Vance Tokita (47-51-98), Jacob Viquelia (53-52-105), Lucas Gushikuma (46-52-98), Ian Castro (77-73-150) and Jeremy Felizardo (55-53-108).
Kapa‘a’s golfers, in addition to the team scorers, included Landen Ishida (44-58-102) and Anthony Aiwohi (48-53-101).
KIF golf hosts its second round of the season Saturday at the Puakea Golf Course with the first group tee-ing off at noon.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
