The Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association presents the David S. Ishii Foundation Girls Golf State Championships that tees off this morning at the Royal Ka‘anapali Golf Course in Lahaina, Maui. Kristina Merkle, a senior at Moanalua High School, is back
The Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association presents the David S. Ishii Foundation Girls Golf State Championships that tees off this morning at the Royal Ka‘anapali Golf Course in Lahaina, Maui.
Kristina Merkle, a senior at Moanalua High School, is back to defend her state championship title after edging Punahou’s Anna Jang and Waiakea’s Britney Yada by one stroke last year at the Wailua Golf Course.
Jang and Yada are both seniors and are on the HHSAA watch list along with Kaua‘i High School’s Kelli Oride, a sophomore, Punahou’s Cyd Okino, and Marissa Chow, a freshman at Iolani School.
Joining the field will be members of Waimea High School’s girls team that made Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation history by winning the girls golf championship for the school.
Melissa Kagawa, the consistent leader of the Menehune team, will be joined by Hamiha Arquette, Charleen Miguel and Paulani Ragasa.
Rae-Lyn Morikawa of Kaua‘i and Gabby Saiki of Kapa‘a will be joining Oride as individualists in the tournament that runs through Wednesday.
Kaua‘i High School has won the girls state title twice since 1999, once in 2001 and again in 2004. Rachel Kyono, now a strong volunteer with the Hawai‘i State Junior Golf Association, was an individualist champion in 2001.
