Shawn Lu’s 1-under 71 provided the separation he needed and then some.
Moanalua’s Lu not only broke away from a three-way tie Thursday to grab medalist honors at the HHSHA boys golf championships, but he helped Na Menehune dethrone three-time time champion Punahou for the team title at Wailua Golf Course on Kauai.
Lu, a senior, finished at 1-under for the 36 holes, finishing three strokes ahead of two teammates, Jun Ho Won (73) and Ray Kim (74), and Mid-Pacific’s Zachary Kaneshiro (71).
Waiakea junior Shon Katahira led the charge among Big Island golfers, carding a 74 to finish in 13th at 10-over.
Next season, Katahira figures to be the heir apparent in the BIIF with three-time champion Trevor Hirata graduating. Playing his final high school round Thursday, Hirata started only four strokes off the lead but he made double-bogey on the par-5 No. 1 and wound up with a 79, tying for 14th, a shot behind Katahira.
The Warriors and Kamehameha-Hawaii each tied for fifth at 81-0ver 657. The private-school Warriors were led by Preston Ching, who carded his second consecutive 79, and Kala’i Pomroy (79), who finished two strokes in back of his teammate at 16-over.
The Buffanblu’s Matthew Shen and Kyle Suppa shared the lead with Lu at even-par to begin the round, but each shot 76 to fall in to a tie for fifth.
That helped Moanalua make up a 10-stroke deficit and finish six shots clear of Punahou for Na Menehune’s first title since 2012.
Other BIIF golfers in the field were: Kamehameha’s Pono Yanagi (84-81–165), Makua Lani’s Matt Rosato (86-85–171), Waiakea’s Brayden Teshima (89-83–172), Kamehameha’s John Andrade (89-85–174), Makua Lani’s Loa Ng (89-85–174), Waiakea’s Marc Agpawa (85-91–176), Hilo’s Riley Kaneshiro (90-87–177), Hilo’s Cody Pinzon (86-92–178), Waiakea’s Kobe Toledo (91-92–183), Waiakea’s Trey Nakagawa (100-82–192), Kamehameha’s Kua Manuia (97-95–192),
