Kamehameha senior Preston Ching is good friends with Waiakea golfers Shon Katahira and Trevor Hirata, and it appears he can’t escape their shadow.
Ching and Katahira each fired a 3-over-par 75 to share medalist honors at a BIIF meet on a windy Wednesday at the Mauna Lani North course.
“I played not bad considering the windy conditions,” Ching said. “I scrambled the front nine (39) and steadied out with an even back nine (36).
“I feel my round was acceptable with the conditions, but every round can be better.”
It was perhaps fitting that Ching and Katahira, a junior Warrior, tied because it seems to be a theme for the two teams.
With Ching’s 75, Kamehameha junior Kala’i Pomroy was fourth at 80, Pono Yanagi sixth at 82, and Kua Manuia seventh at 84 for a 321 team total.
That was enough to topple two-time defending BIIF champion Waiakea’s 335 total: Katahira’s 75, Trevor Hirata (third, 77), Brayden Teshima (ninth, 90) and Marc Agpawa (12th, 93).
Now, Kamehameha and Waiakea are tied 2-2 in BIIF team meets.
“We had a full team of starters, and we all went out there and did our job the best we could,” Ching said. “We know we left some strokes out there, but that’s golf. We all have positive attitudes. With this win, we know the competition is going to be close, but we have to execute for the remaining tournaments.”
Whichever team takes the most BIIF meets wins the team championship.
Kamehameha has never won the BIIF championship, and that’s an elusive prize Ching and his pals are chasing.
“Today’s win was what we really needed to help us achieve our goal,” he said.
For the girls, Waiakea sophomore Kaley Saludares, the defending BIIF champ, was consistent with a 44-44—88 total to capture medalist honors.
She edged fellow sophomore teammate Kaelyn Uchida, who shot a 90 while freshman Tori Hironaga was fourth at 94.
Waiakea, the defending BIIF champion, posted a 272 team total to outdistance Hilo, which finished at 311, led by Sunny Sakai’s 92.
The Warriors are now 4-0 in BIIF team meets.
The next scheduled match is Monday, April 11 at Hokulia.
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Mauna Lani, par 72
Wednesday
Girls
1. Kaley Saludares, Waiakea, 88
2. Kaelyn Uchida, Waiakea, 90
3. Sunny Sakai, Hilo, 92
4. Tori Hironaga, Waiakea, 94
5. Juby Aipoalani, Hilo, 101
6. Shaye Nishimura, Waiakea, 103
7. Anela Dalton, Keaau, 104
8. Chloe Waters, Kamehameha, 112
9. Brianna Hirata, Hilo, 118
10. Chelsea Ward, Hilo, 119
Team
Waiakea, 88-90-94—272; Hilo, 92-101-118—311
Boys
1. Preston Ching, Kamehameha, 75
1. Shon Katahira, Waiakea, 75
3. Trevor Hirata, Waiakea, 77
4. Kala‘i Pomroy, Kamehameha, 80
5. Matt Rosato, Makua Lani, 81
6. Pono Yanagi, Kamehameha, 82
7. Kua Manuia, Kamehameha, 84
8. Riley Kaneshiro, Hilo, 87
9. Brayden Teshima, Waiakea, 90
10. Kyle Hollister, Hawaii Prep, 91
11. John Andrade, Kamehameha, 92
12. Marc Agpawa, Waiakea, 93
13. Jamie Ebersole, Waiakea, 96
14. Spencer Bento, Hilo, 97
14. Alika Faumuina, St. Joseph, 97
16. Tyler Kuanoni, Hilo, 106
17. James Kagawa, Kealakehe, 114
18. Austin Schneider, Hawaii Prep, 121
18. Jonathan Uhlman, St. Joseph, 121
20. Kolby Lorenzo, Kealakehe, 128
21. Leon Moers, Hawaii Prep, 136
22. John Lindenau, St. Joseph, 150
23. Will White, Hawaii Prep, 155
Team
Kamehameha, 75-80-82-84—321; Waiakea, 75-77-90-93—335; HPA, 91-121-136-155—503
