Hilo’s Noah Otani teed off at Ko Olina Golf Course on Oahu on Saturday and drove himself to the mainland.
Reaching distances that trumped competitors in the older divisions, Otani won the ages 7-9 division at a Drive Chip & Putt subregional.
Otani outdrove the qualifiers in 10-11 and 12-13. His first drive cleared 160 yards and his next two soared past the 180 mark, putting himself one step closer to playing at Augusta (Ga.) National.
Otani and Elle Otani, also of Hilo, advanced to a California regional. The finals will be held in Augusta the Sunday before the Masters.
Elle Otani finished second in the girls 10-11 division, excelling in the chipping portion of the competition. Otani and Raya Nakao, the age group winner, each posted 50s with their three chips, easily the best scores among all competitors.
The Big Island’s Dillon Ah Chong, Chanelle Hwang, Megan Kimata and Sophie Christopher all earned alternate positions.
• Former UH-Hilo golfer Isaac Jaffurs shot 14-over 156 on Monday at Leilehua Golf Course on Oahu, tying for 20th after two rounds of qualifying for the U.S. Amateur.
John Oda, a former two-time HHSAA champion at Moanalua, was the story of the tournament, carding a course-record 9-under 62 in the second round en route to earning a spot at the championships.
• Malia Nam was the only Hawaii golfer left standing Wednesday after the first round of match play at the Girls U.S. Junior Amateur in Tulsa, Okla.
Oahu’s Mariel Galdiano – the three-time defending state champion from Punahou – Jennifer Koga and Allisen Corpuz all were eliminated.
A top-10 seed after stroke play, Nam, a Kaiser (Oahu) sophomore, moved on with a 2-and-1 victory.
