WAIKOLOA — It took 50 years, but Kamehameha-Kapalama finally has a state champion boys golfer.
Spencer Dunaway fired a 69 at Waikoloa Kings’ Course, finishing with a two-day total of 3-under 139, topping the field of 96 of the state’s best golfers at the David Ishii/HHSAA state boys golf championship on Friday.
“It’s something special,” said Dunaway. “We have had a ton of great players come through our program. The one that stands out to me is (2008 graduate) TJ Kua. He was probably the greatest. He got into a playoff here and lost, so being able to bring this championship back to Kamehameha is really something special.”
Waiakea’s Trevor Hirata was seeking to become the first state champion from the BIIF since Honokaa’s Sean Maekawa captured the top prize at the same course in 2007.
However, Hirata could not overcome a trio of bogeys in his final round. He finished in 10th place with a two-day total of 2-over 146.
Moanalua’s Kyosuke Hara and Punahou’s Andrew Chin tied for second, both finishing at 2-under 142 for the tournament.
Punahou won the team title for the third straight year with a two-day total of 576. Moanalua finished in a distant second 17 strokes back. The Buffanblu were helped by the efforts of Kyle Suppa, who shot a Round 2 best 68, including a 33 on the front nine.
Waiakea — the BIIF’s lone team with Kamehameha-Hawaii not competing in Round 2 — finished sixth.
Dunaway entered the day in a four-way tie for first after a two-under 70 in his first round. But instead of getting uncomfortable by the packed leaderboard, Dunaway embraced it.
“I think because a lot of people were bunched up at the top it took away a lot of the nerves,” Dunaway said. “It’s a bit tougher when you have the lead and have to sleep on it. I didn’t really have that nervous leader thing. I knew there were a bunch of people still with a shot at it and I would have to come out here and do work.”
Dunaway started that work early. The ILH’s top golfer birdied hole No. 1, and would add two more on the front nine. Despite gaining some separation on the leaderboard, it wasn’t until a long birdie putt on the 145-yard par-3 15th hole that Dunaway finally got comfortable.
“After that I knew it was mine to win or lose,” he said.
Adorned with leis, Dunaway received a slew of high-fives and hugs as he got back to the clubhouse — an exhibition of the camaraderie built through junior golf.
“These guys are some of my best friends,” Dunaway said. “All of the Moanalua team practices with us almost everyday after school. A lot of us travel together too for junior golf. While we were wearing different colors today, I’m glad I got to share it with them.”
At Waikoloa Kings’ Course
Finall round
Team: Punahou 290-286–576; Moanalua 298-295–593; Iolani 304-304–608; Baldwin 301-312–613; Kauai 318-308–626; Waiakea 320-309–629; Kaiser 320-324–644; Lahainaluna 333-317–650; Mililani 332-335–667; Kamehameha-Hawaii 321-x
Individual
Spencer Dunaway, Kamehameha-Kapalama 70-69–139
Kyosuke Hara, Moanalua 71-71–142
Andew Chin, Punahou 70-72-142
Jamie Amimoto, Kauai 72-71–143
Kyle Suppa, Punahou 75-68–143
Tyler Munetake, Baldwin 70-73–143
Kengo Aoshima, Iolani 71-72–143
Colin Laszlo, Punahou 70-73–143
Justin Arcano, Baldwin 73-72–145
Trevor Hirata, Waiakea 73-73–146
Remington Hirano, Punahou 75-72–147
Sian Rogers, Punahou 75-73–148
Shawn Lu, Moanalua 77-71–148
Caleb Keohokapu, Kailua 71-77–148
Matthew Shen, Punahou 75-73–148
Andrew Otani, Iolani 76-73–149
Noah Miller, St. Anthony 74-75–149
Donavon Billena, Kapolei 76-75–151
William Shu, Kaiser 76-75–151
AJ Teraoka, Moanalua 75-77–152
Jun Ho Won, Moanalua 74-78–152
Desmond Mello, Moanalua 76-76–152
Robert Choi, Kalani 78-75–153
Shon Katahira, Waiakea 77-76–153
Bryden Salvador, Kapaa 77-76–153
Keegan Loo, Punahou 79-74–153
Keanu Akina, Kahuku 80-74–154
Jeren Nishimoto, Kaiser 73-81–154
Chad Lee, St. Anthony 77-78–155
Trevor Kua, Kauai 81-75–156
Trevor Arashiro, Iolani 74-82–156
Justin Ngan, Baldwin 79-78–157
Kerek Franz, Lahainaluna 80-77–157
Ryan Kunihisa, Punahou 78-79–157
Preston Ching, Kamehameha-Hawaii 74-83–157
Nicholas Furusho, Leilehua 74-83–157
Kaimi Kanaha, Lahainaluna 80-78–158
Joseph Vallespin, Moanalua 83-75–158
Lucas Bell, Lahainaluna 80-78–158
Evan Kawai, Punahou 81-78–159
Larry Goeas, Saint Louis 80-79–159
Zackary Kaneshiro, Mid-Pacific 77-82–159
Keith Jose, Kauai 77-82–159
Jonathan Morikawa, Punahou 80-79–159
Ahren Ah Chong, Kamehameha-Hawaii 80-80 160
Noah Lau, Iolani 83-77–160
Jerry Largo, Maryknoll 79-81–160
Ray Kim, Moanalua 78-82–160
Nickolas Nelson, Moanalua 78-82–160
Andrew Hipolito, Mililani 80-80–160
Chase Narimatsu, Waiakea 85-76–161
Gunwook Baik, Roosevelt 80-82–162
MJ Kang, Kalani 85-78–163
Kelii Kamelamela-Dudoit, Kamehameha-Kapalama 85-78–163
Ikaia Bernardino, St. Louis 82-81–163
Kala’i Pomroy, Kamehameha-Hawaii 84-79–163
Derek Chinen Jr., Castle 76-87–163
Adam Lei, Kaiser 83-81–164
Kaylan Ha, Moanalua 80-84–164
Alexander Rambaud, Mililani 83-83–166
Ryan Chang, Seabury Hall 83-84–167
Dylan Manibog, Maui 82-85–167
Jude Anthony Apalla, Kauai 88-80–168
Nathaniel Idica, Baldwin 79-89–168
Daniel Lott, Roosevelt 87-82–169
Jordan Terada, Maui 86-83–169
William Asai, Iolani 87-82–169
Kainalu Gandia, Kapaa 86-84–170
Adam Chiya, Roosevelt 86-84–170
Luigi Remo, Kealakehe 83-87–170
Kyle Sparks, Seabury Hall 82-88–170
Jarryd Gano, Mililani 80-90–170
Ziggy Bartholomy, Kealakehe 89-83–172
Matthew Rosato, Makua Lani 85-87–172
Adam Quandt, Maui 83-90–173
Daniel Ko, Mililani 89-85–174
Brayden Teshima, Waiakea 90-84–174
Trey Yang, Mililani 92-82–174
Michael Schenk, Castle 88-86–174
Dalya Yoo, Kaiser 88-87–175
Cody Pinzon, Hilo 88-88–176
Tristen Villa, Lahainaluna 93-84–177
Blaise Takushi, Hawaii Baptist 92-86–178
Gavin Bedoya, Kaiser 88-91–179
Jacob Pu’u, Kamehameha-Maui 91-89–180
Mathew Kikuyama, Mililani 89-91–180
Jacob Maluenda, Campbell 92-89–181
Colby Gunderson, Castle 91-90–181
Devin Pagdilao, Campbell 88-94–182
Eric Kagawa, Waiakea 85-98–183
Beau Johnston, Maui Prep 93-92–185
Deven Kimoto, Kauai 89-96–185
Samuel Skinner, Mid-Pacific 107-85–192
Aidan Alcos, Makua Lani 95-100–195
Austin Baker, Campbell 104-96–200
