Taryn Taguma of Lihue sliced two strokes off her opening round but fell short by a stroke Sunday during the final round of the 2017 Kiahuna Junior Classic hosted by the Kiahuna Golf Club in Poipu. Taguma was tied with
Taryn Taguma of Lihue sliced two strokes off her opening round but fell short by a stroke Sunday during the final round of the 2017 Kiahuna Junior Classic hosted by the Kiahuna Golf Club in Poipu.
Taguma was tied with Nicolle Nitta of Honolulu following the Saturday round at 80 during the tournament presented by the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association and attracting a field of golfers from around the state, and wrapping up Sunday afternoon.
Nitta concluded the tournament, firing a second-round 77 on the par 70, 6,925-yard layout for the Girls 15-18 flight to edge out Taguma by a stroke and take the flight with a two-day 157 compared with Taguma’s 158 (80-78). Kaelyn Uchida of Hilo, Hawaii filled in the No. 3 spot for the flight at 167 (84-83).
Kauai Junior Golfers controlled the Girls 11-12 flight, Kiara Nicole Johnson setting the pace with a two-day 187 (92-95) ahead of Heiley Kikuchi (109-97-206) of Koloa and Samantha Murphy (97-109-206) of Lihue tying for runner up honors on the course that played at 4,887 yards.
Sabrina Murphy of Koloa (113-123-236) finished in fifth place for the Girls 13-14 flight which was taken by Lacey Uchida of Hilo, Hawaii who fired a two-day 145 (69-76), including a one-under par opening round on the course that played 5,560 yards.
Runner-up honors in the flight belonged to Lana Calibuso-Kwee of Wailuku, Maui who finished with a two day 151 (76-75), seven strokes better than Kaylee Akagi of Mililani, Hawaii (76-82-158). Eunice Han of Honolulu ended fourth at 185 (91-94).
On the boys’ course, Lihue’s Kade Kikuchi was one stroke below Noah Otani of Hilo, Hawaii on the opening round of the Boys 11-12 flight which played to 4,887 yards.
Kikuchi roared back, Sunday, finished with a 75 to Otani’s 84 to claim the flight at 156 over Otani’s 164. Jake Otani, also of Hilo, finished third at 190 (93-97).
Niki Upson of Princeville finished fifth in the Boys 13-14 flight that was taken by Noah Koshi of Pearl City, Oahu who fired a three-over par 73 on the final round toward his two-day 147 (74-73) tie with Jake Sequin of Honolulu who came from a one-stroke deficit, Saturday to fire a two-over 72, Sunday and force the tie for the lead.
Marshall Kim of Honolulu (76-75-151), Ethan Jaehn of Kamuela, Big Island (76-77-153), Upson (88-89-177), Pierce Dowd of Kihei, Maui (88-92-180), and Justin Darnbrough of Koloa (90-93-183) filled in the leaderboard.
Andrew Otani of Honolulu fired a one-over 71 on the opening round en route to ending with a 150 (71-79) to claim the Boys 15-18 flight which played to 6,925 yards. Reynn Hoshide of Mililani, Hawaii finished at 157 (83-74) to claim runner up honors.
Kauai boys Rilen Loo, Kanoa Nii and Kamden Nii, all of Lihue had the close fight for third place when Kanoa fired a stroke better than Loo on the opening round. Loo answered during the final round with a 79 to Kanoa’s 85 to claim third place on a two-day 167 (83-79), five stroke ahead of Kanoa who ended in fourth with a 167 (82-85) — just three strokes ahead of Kamden who ended fifth at 170 (83-87) after tying with Loo on the opening round.
Jonathan Morikawa of Honolulu (85-87-172), Jaydon Kyono of Kalaheo (91-92-183), Minseo David Shon of Kapolei, Oahu (94-89-183), and Braeden Yokoyama of Lawai (99-105-204) rounded out the field.
