LIHUE — Kauai High School’s Christian Ganir broke the 80-mark to lead the Red Raiders to its sixth win Saturday during the final Kauai Interscholastic Federation golf match contested at the Puakea Golf Course.
Ganir, starting the day under clear skies and a nice breeze, started strong, picking up a birdie on the first hole, crossed at two-over par 38. Another birdie on the No. 10 fueled his back nine where he finished at three-over par 39 for his 77, the best round in the match.
Deven Kimoto’s short game pulled another birdie on the first hole, a smile blossoming across his face as he propped the flag for his foursome. But the Puakea No. 8 claimed him as he crossed two strokes off the pace (40) to finish at 80 (40-40), being joined by AJ Apalla who also carded an 80 (39-41) to lead the Red Raiders for the boys KIF golf title on a 319 team score.
Red Raider Taryn Taguma finished with an 83 (40-43) to lead the Kauai girls team to its 272 team score for the girls KIF title after Waimea and Kapaa failed to have sufficient team scoring players.
“Congratulations to the Kauai High School boys and girls teams who are the KIF champions for the season,” said Sam Pratt, the KIF tournament director. “The KIF Individual Champions will be determined during the KIF qualifying rounds which start Friday at the Wailua Golf Course. The players will also be competing for individual positions for this year’s David S. Ishii Foundation Hawaii High School Athletic Association state golf championships which will be held at the Turtle Bay, Oahu course in May.”
The KIF qualifying round starts Friday when the first groups tee off at noon, and finishes Saturday when the first groups go off starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Wailua Golf Course.
Results
w Girls Team Kauai: 278 – Taryn Taguma (40-42-83), Jessica Hreljac (48-46-94), Tyra Oshiro (46-49-95), Sabrina Murphy (53-53-106).
w Boys Team Kauai: 319 – Christian Ganir (38-39-77), AJ Apalla (39-41-80), Deven Kimoto (40-40-80), Kamden Nii (37-45-82), Kanoa Nii (39-48-87).
w Boys Team Island School: 347 – Reece Valencia (41-37-78), Niki Upson (41-42-83), Justin Darnbrough (46-41-87), James Pratt (45-54-99), Henry Scherer (54-51-105).
w Boys Team Waimea: 413 – Nick Esposo (47-45-92), Braden Kobayashi (57-48-105), Ryan Martin (52-53-105), Kylan Constantino (56-55-111), Keanu Yamamoto (74-53-127).
w Boys Team Kapaa: Kekoa Eisenhouse (39-44-83), Kaimana Zarbaugh (51-41-92).
w Individualist, Boys: Jaydon Kyono (Kau) 40-41-81, Riley Gokan (Kau) 43-40-83, Justen Solatre (Kau) 47-47-94, Mosiah Bautista (Kau) 55-45-100, Nathan Marugame (Kau) 51-50-101, Jayson Serrano (Kau)47-59-106, Braeden Yokoyama (Kau) 53-54-107, Ben Griep (IS) 63-52-115.
w Individualist, Girls: Keesha Brown (Kau) 46-51-97, Kyra Robley (Kau) 67-59-126, Alicia Hayakawa (Kap) 61-66-127.
w Individualist, 9 Holes: Geon Kittredge (Wai) 61, Kevin Cabreira (KCA) 62, Sophia Marvel (KCA) 67, Jana Sheatz (KCA) 71, Bella Hoyle (KCA) 71, Quinn Catlin (IS) 72.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
