LIHUE — Kauai junior golfers emerged with two medals following the final round of the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Junior Tour Series for 14 and Under at the Puakea Golf Course Sunday. Playing in brisk winds, Ryan Chang Jr.
LIHUE — Kauai junior golfers emerged with two medals following the final round of the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Junior Tour Series for 14 and Under at the Puakea Golf Course Sunday.
Playing in brisk winds, Ryan Chang Jr. finished in third place for the Boys 7-10 division after firing a 36-hole total 187 (90-97).
“The tournament was good,” Chang said. “I was having problems at the No. 12 trying to hit out of the sand. Saturday was better because I shot a 90. Today, I could have done better at hole No. 2. I ended up with a 97, and third place.”
Chang led the Kauai medals in that division finishing six strokes ahead of Carson Minsu Oyama who finished with a 193 (98-95), and Kade Kikuchi who ended at 204 (102-102).
Joshua Satonaka Chung fired a 2-under par 70 Sunday to end 1-over par 145 (75-70) to take the division. Dillion Ikaika Jonke of Kihei, Maui, filled in the second place with a 171 (92-79).
“I blew up a little and shot an 86 Saturday,” said Kanoa Nii of Lihue. “Today, I settled a little and the weather helped.”
Kanoa Nii rebounded to cross at 1-over 37, and following a great back nine where he finished 1-under 35, Kanoa posted an even par 72 Sunday en route to a 158, good enough for third place in the Boys 13-14 field of seven golfers.
“Yesterday, it was windy, cold and overcast,” Kanoa said. “Today, it was still cold, but it wasn’t that windy, and the sun came out at certain spots. I think that helped me concentrate better. This was my lowest score in two years.”
Christian Ganir of Kapaa followed Kanoa at 161 (86-75), missing the medal count by three strokes.
“We were in the same group and helped each other,” Ganir said. “When I made a bad shot, Kanoa came over and helped me out, and when he made a bad shot, I would help him. This was kind of a hard tournament with the competition.”
Kona Kashiwagi of Honolulu finished even par Sunday to capture the division with a two-day 145 (73-72). Kolbe Irei, also of Honolulu, filled in the runner-up berth eight strokes off the pace at 152 (73-79) with Kanoa filling in the No. 3 berth.
Following Ganir at the No. 4 spot, Kamden Nii, firing four strokes better than Kanoa on Saturday, tumbled to No. 5 with a two-day 171 (81-90). Braeden Yokoyama of Lawai finished with a 246 (134-112).
Summer Wong of Haiku, Maui, said this was her first time playing at the Puakea Golf Course.
“The greens were really fast,” Wong said. “The course is really hilly, but we had nicer weather today.”
The weather helped her finish with a 78 (40-38) Sunday en route to her 162 (84-78) which captured the Girls 11-12 division just two strokes ahead of Honolulu’s Minny Byun (85-79-164) and four strokes better than Hilo’s Lacey Uchida (81-85-166).
Kailey Oki, also of Hilo, rounded out the field at 178 (95-83). Kelly Chinn of Honolulu topped the Boys 11-12 division with a 154 (81-73) followed by Noah Koshi of Pearl City, Oahu, at 168 (84-84) and Marshall Kim of Honolulu at 175 (87-88).
Kauai’s Niki Slater Upson of Princeville filled in the No. 4 spot in the division at 209 (108-101) followed by E. Steele Parker of Kalaheo (108-107-215) and Luke de la Pena of Kalaheo (118-107-225).
Lana Calibuso-Kwee topped the Girls 13-14 division at 158 (84-74) followed by Milburn Ho (83-84-167) and Kaelyn Uchida (91-84-175).
