Yanagi fifth at HSJGA championships
Yanagi fifth at HSJGA championships
Hilo’s Pono Yanagi finished fifth at the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association championships on Wednesday at Hokulia.
The Kamehameha sophomore-to-be shot a 3-over-par 75 to finish with a 149 two-round total and sevens shot back of medalist Evan Kawai.
Kawai, an incoming Punahou junior, fired a 2-under 72 and finished with a 2-under 142 total to capture the boys 15-18 division.
Waiakea senior-to-be Shon Katahira was seventh with a 75 and 151 total. Upcoming Kamehameha senior Kala‘i Pomroy was 18th with a 78 and 161 total.
Incoming Makua Lani senior Matt Rosato was 21st with an 85 and 168 total.
In the boys 13-14 division, Waiakea freshman-to-be Isaiah Kanno placed fourth with an 86 and 167 total.
Keaau’s Ethan Hironaga was fifth with an 85 and 173 total and Dillon Ah Chong was sixth with a 90 and 180 total.
Honolulu’s Lee Davis won the age division with a 71 and 1-over 145 total.
In the girls 13-18 division, Waiakea junior-to-be Kaley Saludares finished tied for 11th with an 83 and 165 total.
Hilo’s Mari Ebersole tied for 13th with an 81 and 166 total, and Lacey Uchida took 17th with a 90 and 174 total.
Waiakea junior-to-be Kaelyn Uchida placed 24th with a 90 and 191 total.
Maryknoll incoming junior Allysha Mae Mateo captured medalist honors with a 6-under 66 for a 2-under 142 total. She shot a 76 in the first round.
Big Isle golfers eye Augusta National
Chanelle Hwang and Dillon Ah Chong and were the most consistent hitters of the tee, Jillian Mitsuda was true with her irons and Aukahi Lapera was steadiest on the greens.
Along with 17 other golfers Saturday at Hualalai, those four took the first step toward a possible trip to Augusta National by advancing at a Drive, Chip & Putt qualifier.
Lapera accumulated the highest overall score (127 points) in winning the boys 10-11 division. He nailed two drives at least 210 yards and also made a hole-in-one.
Mitsuda smacked two drives longer than 220 yards, and even though she was hurt when she missed the fairway with another drive, she was on the mark with her chipping, placing two balls within 2 feet of the cup to finish first in girls 13-14 with 106 points.
Hwang won girls 11-12 with 104 points as all three of her drives cleared 200 yards. Ah Chong reaches 200 three times as well to top boys 14-15 with 103 points.
The other age-group winners were Will Pedersen (boys 7-9), Justin Birch (boys 12-13), Zaynie Lee Chow (girls 7-9), and Michiko Ejima (girls 10-11).
Also advancing to a subregional qualifier on Oahu were Jayden Pacheco, Colt Coakley, Jayden Alonzo Estrada, Katsuhiro Yamashita, Eric Gee, Michael Clifford-Levy, Jacob Gardner, Mari Ebersole, Rayna Gallegos, Megan Nakamoto, Adriana Lynn Volpe, Emma Akana and Madelyn Awaya.
The ultimate prize is a trip to the championships, which will be held during the week leading up to the Masters.
At the Aloha Senior Skills Challenge on Sunday at Hualalai, Norbert Furumo (Kupuna division), Clayton Amuro (Makule division) and (Lolita Rapozo) were the winners at a drive, chip and putt contest.
Keaau High School Summer conditioning
Keaau High School will be holding summer conditioning for all incoming or current 9th- 12th grade students in the following sports: Football, Monday/Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Girls Soccer, Tuesday/Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; and Cheer, Wednesdays from 3 to 5 p.m.
All interested students must have a physical on file in the athletic office prior to participation. For more information, contact the athletic office at 313-3450.