PO‘IPU — Rain and inclement weather plagued one of the bigger tennis tournaments. “Due to weather, there were a few matches rescheduled,” said Krystyna Noe, a coordinator with the Po‘ipu Kai Tennis Tournament for charity. “All but one match was
PO‘IPU — Rain and inclement weather plagued one of the bigger tennis tournaments.
“Due to weather, there were a few matches rescheduled,” said Krystyna Noe, a coordinator with the Po‘ipu Kai Tennis Tournament for charity. “All but one match was played this past week.”
The match involved the Men’s A Singles where Koko Chang goes up against Corey Grubb in the finals.
Earlier, Chang advanced in the round with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Shawn Morimoto to meet Efren Ruiz in the semifinals of the division after Ruiz advanced on a default win over Harry Halsey.
Chang, working through a physical high-paced match, prevailed, 6-2, 6-2 to face Grubb in the finals.
Grubb, a 7-6, 6-3 winner over Stan Schiller in the opening round, advanced to the finals with a tight win over Brant Fughigami, 6-2, 1-6, 1-0(10-6) in the semis.
The Clifton Kukino family brought home its share of trophies from the match as Sarah Kukino defeated Barbara Hubbard 6-2, 6-3 for the title in the Women’s A Singles.
Sarah teamed with Jordan Kukino in the Mixed Doubles A Division to best the team of Chang and Kathryn Bieker, 6-1, 6-4 for the title, Sarah’s second trophy of the tourney. This came following the Kukino pair getting past the team of Derron White and Loutoa Zoller, 7-6 (7-1), 6-0) in the semis while the Chang/Bieker team advanced after defeating the duo of Eric Lutz and Valarie Rekward, 6-2, 6-1.
The husband-wife team of Clifton and Joy Kukino advanced to the semifinals of the Mixed Doubles B Division before dropping to the team of Tysen Okihara and Lani Rae Green, 4-6, 3-6. Okihara and Green went on to reign the division with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Corey and Ani Grubb.
“This is the first time Clifton and Joy have played together as a husband-wife team,” said Carolyn Lum, a tournament official.
Andrew Sugita and Nikki Matsumura topped the Mixed Doubles C Division with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Stan Sucher and Kathy Oliver. Sugita and Matsumura advanced via a 6-4, 7-5 edge over the team of Gerald Miller and Avis Hirahara in the semis. Sucher and Oliver downed the duo of Dan Miyamoto and Alana Buddingh, 6-3, 6-2 to advance from the semis.
Kimo Honda got in the way of Okihara getting his second trophy of the tournament by stopping him in the finals of the Men’s Singles B Division, 6-3, 6-2. Okihara defeated former Waimea High School tennis standout Darrel Nonaka 6-3, 6-4 in the semis to advance while Honda got past Rick Shaw 6-3, 6-1 in the semis to advance to the finals.
Green, on the other hand, finished with two trophies by defeating Rosemary Smythe, 6-1, 6-3 in the finals of the Women’s Singles B Division.
Green advanced to the finals by getting past Debbie Bail, 6-2, 6-2, Bail having to balance the final Kaua‘i All Girl Rodeo Association event at the CJM Country Stables and the tournament. Smythe advanced from the semis with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Ginger Allen.
Working through 10 games due to the weather, Kyle Larson came up short in the finals of the Men’s Singles C Division as the circulation manager of TGI fell to Mike Morimoto, 3-6, 3-6.
Earlier, Larson advanced through his hectic game schedule with a tight win over Peter Nguyen, 4-6, 7-5, 1-0(10-6) to meet Morimoto who had an equally tight win over Justin Halog, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) in the semis of that division.
More tight competition took place on the court of the Women’s Singles C Division where Paula Nishi edged out Carol Ito, 2-6, 6-1, 1-0(10-8) for the title. Nishi advanced to the finals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Linda White and Ito advanced by defeating Michelle Fitzgerald, 6-1, 6-3.
Noe said the Po‘ipu Kai Tennis Tournament for charity is the final tournament for the year. Proceeds from the four charity tournaments held in 2009 will be donated to the Kaua‘i United Way.
Major sponsors for the tournament include the Po‘ipu Kai Association and the Kaua‘i District Tennis Association. Joining the banner sponsors are the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa, the Aloha Kaua‘i Resort, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, Kalaheo Coffee Company and Diversified Awards and Engraving.
Because of the overwhelming response by players and the community, Noe said the committee is hoping to do the tournament next year.
For more information and additional scores, visit the tournament Web site at www.kctennis2009.webs.com.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
