POIPU — Zoey Akagi-Bustin shot a 75 Sunday to top the Girls 15-18 division at the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Kiahuna Junior Classic. Playing at the Kiahuna Golf Club under clear conditions with just a whisper of wind, Akagi-Bustin
POIPU — Zoey Akagi-Bustin shot a 75 Sunday to top the Girls 15-18 division at the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Kiahuna Junior Classic.
Playing at the Kiahuna Golf Club under clear conditions with just a whisper of wind, Akagi-Bustin fired a 75 on the opening day Saturday for a two-day total 150.
The win gives her a spot on the girls team for the 2013 Asia Pacific Junior Cup, Nov. 3 – 5 at the Waikoloa Kings’ Course on the Big Island.
Joining Akagi-Bustin on the girls team are Kristin Le, Alanis Sakuma, Keilyn Ing, Kimberlie Miyamoto and Aiko Leong.
Miyamoto, of Kahului, Maui, finished the Girls 15-18 division with a 160 (82-78), tying Kirsten Ishikawa (80-80-16) of Pukalani, Maui, and Annika Espino (78-82-160), of Honolulu, for fourth place.
Tyler Munetake, of Wailuku, Maui, fired a 74 during the final round to end tied for the lead with a 150 (76-74) in the Boys 15-18 class.
Fellow Maui golfer Justin Ngan, of Wailuku, was a stroke ahead of Munetake to finish with a two-day 150 (77-73) to tie for the lead.
Desmond Mello fired a final-round best of 72, but could not overcome his opening round 81 to finish in second place at 153, three strokes off the pace.
Kauai’s Bryden Salvador, just one stroke off the pace after the opening round, tumbled to a 79 Sunday to finish the tournament in fifth place at 154 (75-79).
Matthew Shen, of Kapolei, Oahu, leading the opening round at 75, finished seventh after firing an 83 during the final round, despite a spectacular chip for birdie at the No. 9 fairway.
Shen finished at 157 (74-83) ahead of Remington Hirano (77-82-159).
Jamie Amimoto (76-88-164), Keegan Loo (80-92-172), Keith Jose (90-84-174) and Tyler Barton (97-90-187), all Kauai golfers, filled in ninth through 12th places.
Both Munetake and Ngan qualify for the boys team at the APJC. Joining the leaders of the Kiahuna Junior Classic, P.J. Samiere, John Oda, Ariel Elftman-Hanson, Keegan Loo, Kyle Suppa, Shawn Lu, Spencery Dunaway and Hirano will be the boys team.
Hiilani Alana, a sophomore at Kauai High School, was the sole representative in the Girls 13-14 class, firing a two-round 189 (91-98).
Jordan Terada, of Kahului, Maui, topped the Boys 11-12 class with a two-round 168 (83-85) followed by James Pratt of Lihue (105-93-198) and Niki Slater Upson, of Princeville (112-112-224).
Trevor Arashiro, of Honolulu (81-73-154), fired the best round for the Boys 13-14 Sunday, at 73 but came up a stroke short, settling for a tie at second with Acey Yanagishita (72-82-154), also of Honolulu.
Trevor Kua, of Lihue (83-78-161), and Rilen Loo (90-84-174), also of Lihue, filled in at fifth and eighth places, respectively.
Naea Oda of Kapaa rebounded from an opening round 84 to fire a 78 Sunday, but settled for seventh place in the Girls 15-18 division with a two-day 164.
The HSJGA Kiahuna Junior Classic, in addition to earning points toward the 2013 APJC, was the last tournament for junior golfers to earn a spot to attend the Michelle Wie HSJGA Tournament of Champions Dec. 14-15 at the Wailea Golf Club Emerald Course.
The Hilton Grand Vacations is the APJC title sponsor for the seventh year of the Ryder Cup-style international junior tournament. The event features the top 16 junior golfers from Japan and Hawaii to benefit the HSJGA and the Waikoloa Foundation, a Big Island nonprofit organization.
A Junior Am Golf Tournament will launch the competition on Nov. 2 at the Kings’ Course where the top Hawaii and Japan golfers have the privilege of joining participating amateurs.
Call Karen Murray Boston, the APJC tournament director, at (480) 495-5593 for more information.
