Ka'ae strings together a 76 for Waialae Women's title

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Ku'ulei Ka'ae took up golf 12 years ago and has won two of her past three tournaments, including the Waialae Women's title yesterday. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Ka'ae shot a 4-over-par 76 to overtake Sanae Vierra, whose husband, Roy, is Ka'ae's first cousin. Vierra shared the first-round lead with Bev Kim on Monday after shooting a 76. But Vierra slipped to an 84 yesterday, and Ka'ae rebounded from an 80 on Monday to win. Kim shot an 85 yesterday and fell out of contention.

"I tell everybody that (Vierra) is my cousin," Ka'ae said. "She's just starting to get into tournament golf, and I already know a lot of these people, so it's good when I can introduce her."

Until recently, Ka'ae may have needed to introduce herself to local golf fans. Having started the game at age 35, she waited 12 years before capturing her first tournament title — the Moanalua Women's Invitational one month ago. Ka'ae, a Kailua resident, still might be more well-known as the person who runs Pua Melia Leis at the airport.

"This is still new to me," Ka'ae said yesterday, after being interviewed for TV and newspaper reports. "I'm a little nervous."

Ironically, her victory at Waialae followed a disappointing performance last week at the tournament that shares a name with her lei stand — the Pua Melia Invitational at Olomana Golf Links. Her second-round score of 79 bumped her out of the title chase, and it came on her home course.

"I had a 45 on the back (nine)," Ka'ae said. "I blew up."

That did not happen yesterday. She bogeyed the first hole but then strung together five straight pars before bogeying No. 7. She finished with two more pars to make the turn at 2-over 38.

Ka'ae stumbled early on the back nine, with a double bogey on 11 and a bogey on 12. But she birdied the par-3 13th and finished with five consecutive pars to come in at 2-over 38.

Ka'ae said her long drives left her with short iron shots to the green, a big advantage especially at windy Waialae.

"I would go in with my sand wedge, pitching wedge, 9 or 8," Ka'ae said. "I never used my 7."

Kapahulu's Vierra, 36, said poor putting cost her any chance of maintaining her lead.

She finished each nine with 6-over 42s.

"I had four or five three-putts," Vierra said. "The putts wouldn't go in."

Still, Vierra said she was happy for her "cousin."

"She helps me a lot," Vierra said. "And she hits the ball really far."

Incha Baughman of Mid-Pacific Country Club won the low-net championship with a score of 66-72—138.