Colorado's O'Neill rallies, claims Junior Masters title
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
MILILANI — Derek O'Neill got hot at just the right time, and Nick Mason got an unlucky bounce at the worst possible moment yesterday to give O'Neill the World Junior Masters championship for 16-18 year-olds at Mililani Golf Club.
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O'Neill, of Littleton, Colo., eagled the par-5 seventh hole (his 16th of the day) in yesterday's final round to pull to within two strokes of Mason, who began the day with a one-stroke lead. O'Neill then parred the next hole as Mason doubled, and finished with a birdie to win by one stroke.
Casey Kobashigawa, a sophomore-to-be at Iolani School, played his way to a three-stroke victory in the boys' 13-15 age division of the World Junior Masters Golf Tournament yesterday at the Mililani Golf Club.
O'Neill shot a final-round 1-over 73 for a 54-hole total of 1-under 215.
Joan Shimozaki of Kihei, a recent graduate of Seabury Hall Academy and an incoming freshman at the University of San Francisco, won the girls championship by four strokes over Ayumi Hori of Honolulu. Shimozaki shot 76—225, while Hori ended at 76—229.
Casey Kobashigawa, a sophomore-to-be at Iolani School, won the 13-15 age division by three strokes over Bronson Kalilikane of Kapolei and Erik Flores of Grass Valley, Calif. Kobashigawa shot a final-round 72 for a 220 total. Kalilikane (76) and Flores (77) tied at 223.
Mason, a recent graduate of Leilehua High School and an incoming freshman at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo, had a two-stroke lead with two holes left and hit what he thought was a solid drive on Mililani Golf Club's 371-yard, par-4 No. 8. But after walking down the fairway, Mason was told his ball went into a water hazard.
"I thought it was a perfect tee shot," Mason said. "But it kicked right and rolled into the water. I couldn't believe it."
Mason took a drop near the stream bank, missed the green on his approach and two-putted for double-bogey.
On the final hole, the 500-yard, par-5 No. 9, O'Neill sank a six-foot putt for birdie. Mason pulled his 25-foot birdie putt, settling for par and second place.
Mason ended up at 76—216, and Kevin Shimomura of Lahaina finished third at 76—217.
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O'Neill, who will be a senior at Highlands Ranch High School this fall, finished fifth in Colorado's prep state tournament this year. He also won the Colorado stroke play championship for juniors two weeks ago.
O’NEILL: Captures the boys’ 16-18 age division
"I was hitting it great off the tee today," O'Neill said. "And I putted well."
O'Neill needed only 31 putts, but his ride to the title wasn't smooth. He was two-under after the first four holes before bogeying three of the last four on his front nine and three of the first six on the back.
"I was hitting some loose shots, spraying the ball," O'Neill said.
The turning point came on No. 7, a 477-yard par-5. O'Neill smashed a 300-yard drive, then stuck a 7-iron approach to within eight feet.
"I needed that eagle," he said. "I hit a driver into the wind, I knew I had to reach in two. I hadn't really had anything going before that."
The 6-foot-3 O'Neill, 17, said he felt confident knowing two of the final three holes were par 5s.
"I always have an advantage on those," he said.
Mason, 18, said poor putting throughout the round cost him the title more than his tee shot on No. 8.
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"My putting really let me down today," said Mason, who needed 38 putts. "The holes were tucked right on the fault lines, so it was really a tough day on the greens."
SHIMOZAKI:
Wins the girls’ 13-18 age division
Shimozaki, 17, said she also wasted some opportunities with her putter.
"I was on in two for all (four) par 5s," she said. "But I couldn't birdie any of them. I wasn't happy at all."
But at least she won.
Christo Greyling of Orlando, Fla., entered the tournament as the nation's No. 1-ranked boys junior golfer according to the Golf Week/Titlist Points Ranking System. Greyling, however, struggled to a sixth-place finish after shooting 75-75-78—228, 12 strokes behind O'Neill.
