Isaiah Kanno was the heaviest hitter and Elle Otani displayed the trustiest putter Saturday as 17 junior golfers advanced at a Drive Putt & Chip Championship qualifier at Hualalai.
Isaiah Kanno was the heaviest hitter and Elle Otani displayed the trustiest putter Saturday as 17 junior golfers advanced at a Drive Putt & Chip Championship qualifier at Hualalai.
Kanno cleared 250 yards with one drive in boys 12-13, and Otani was solid in chipping and excelled on the greens in girls 12-13 to post the top score at the event (146 points).
In boys 14-15, Riley Kaneshiro (109) pulled away with his chipper to outdistance Ethan Hironaga (84) and Titan Oshura (60), who also reached a subregional that will be held July 18 at Ko Olina Golf Club on Oahu.
Kaneshiro’s top drive reached between 220-230 yards as he won his age group for the second consecutive year.
The other age-group winners were Noah Otani (boys 7-9), Kaelum Lumanlan (10-11), Sophie Christopher (girls 7-9), Chanelle Hwang (12-13) and Fiona McDowell (14-15).
Hwang cleared 230 yards with one of her drives.
The ultimate prize is a trip to Augusta (Ga.) National. The finals will be held the week before the Masters.
Qualifiers
Boys 14-15: Riley Kaneshiro (109); Ethan Hironaga (84); Titan Oshura (60)
Boys 12-13: Isaiah Kanno (140); Dillon Ah Chong (120)
Boys 10-11: Kaelum Lumanlan (62)
Boys 7-9: Noah Otani (116), Jake Otani (104), Nicholas Segawa (68)
Girls 14-15: Fiona McDowell (57)
Girls 12-13: Chanelle Hwang (92), Megan Kimata (88)
Girls 10-11: Elle Otani (146), Cienna Cabrera (59)
Girls 7-9: Sophie Christopher (90), Kylee Pua (41), Christina Ward (19)
Little separation
They weren’t able to punch tickets to the mainland, but Waiakea teammates Trevor Hirata and Shon Katahira stuck together during three recent qualifiers on Oahu.
On Wednesday at Kukui’ula as 31 golfers vied for a spot in the U.S. Junior Amateur, Hirata finished with his second consecutive 83 and was 23rd. Katahira was another stroke at 167 back after an 85. Kyosuke Hara, the HHSAA runner-up for Moanalua in May, advanced to the championships, carding a 139.
Hirata and Katahira tied for 17th with 76s at an Optimist qualifier Saturday at Turtle Bay. At an Adams qualifier Friday at Turtle Bay, Katahira tied for ninth with a 73 and Hirata was two strokes behind.