Punahou sixth-grader gains women's match play final

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Move over Michelle Wie, there's a new young gun in golf town.

Punahou's Stephanie Kono tries to become the youngest Hawaii State Women's Golf Association match play champ. Kyle Sackowski • The Honolulu Advertiser

Kono meets Desiree Ting, a 2-and-1 winner over Merynn Ito, today at 7 a.m at O'ahu Country Club.

Suddenly, Baby Boomer has taken on a whole new meaning here in women's golf. First Wie, also 11, won big at the Jennie K. Invitational and became the first female to qualify for the Manoa Cup — the men's match play championship.

With Wie on the Mainland — advancing to the third round of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links — Kono stepped into the pre-teen void this week.

Kono is six weeks and a grade younger than Wie at Punahou School, nearly a foot shorter and doesn't weigh 100 pounds. She still blasts her drives 240 yards and earned medalist honors Monday on the wings of two eagles. Yesterday, she ousted a three-time state match play champion, and her second 50-something golfer in as many days.

For nearly four hours, Kim chased Kono across Nu'uanu Valley, scrambling to compensate for a 30-yard deficit off the tee. They were never separated by more than one hole and were even after 15. If it was stroke play, both would have been 3-over par, while Ting and Ito were playing at a 2-over pace.

"I was just lucky to be here because that's the way it is nowadays," said Kim, who reached the final last year. "I'm here to have fun. I really had fun because it was a good match. We both earned our wins."

For the second day in a row, Kim's drive on the par-3 16th dived into the right bunker. She couldn't get up and down this time and Kono took a 1-up lead into the 17th, and then 18th.

After spending last year finishing her degree at the University of Hawai‘i, Desiree Ting is back in the swing, advancing to today’s final. Kyle Sackowski • The Honolulu Advertiser

Suddenly the rain rolled in and her precocious opponent acted her age. Kono nudged her 35-foot birdie putt too hard. It caught the slope and rolled off the green.

"It was a nasty, nasty putt," said Kevin Ralbovsky, Kono's caddy and teaching pro. "I've seen pros do the same thing. That front left pin position is the hardest pin on the course. And I think with all the people around and a little extra adrenaline, she probably hit it two feet too hard. Once it got past the hole, it picked up speed."

Kono's first chip back hit pin high, then rolled back to her feet in the swale that fronts the green.

"From the 15th hole I was a little worried," Kono said. "After I missed that short chip on 18, I got a little more worried."

Kono finally got back to the green in five and drained a seven-foot putt for a six. Kim barely touched her putt. It stopped a foot from the hole and her bogey squared the match.

But it wasn't really even. Kono played as if the last hole was ancient history ... say the 1980s ... and Kim admitted later the playoff sneaked up on her. Her drive buried in deep grass on the side of the hill. Her second shot didn't reach Kono's drive — "I had to hack it out and I just hacked it," Kim said — and she was short of the green in three.

Kono reached the par-5 in two and two-putted for birdie to reach the final of her second adult event.

"I like golf because it's very challenging," Kono said. "And sometimes relaxing. But not today."

Ting, 23, has spent the last year working, finishing her degree at the University of Hawai'i and realizing how much she missed golf. Her first tournament back was last month's Jennie K.

She is in position to win her second after one-putting four consecutive holes on the back nine yesterday. Ito, the 2000 girls state high school champion, couldn't match Ting's touch. Ting won Nos. 12, 13 and 14 to go 2-up, then took the match when Ito three-putted 17.

Today, Ting plays a golfer half her young age. It is not a surprise. "Bev already told me I'm on the older side around here," Ting said.

She is also on the wiser side, which could be good or bad.

"Stephanie is so young, she doesn't get nervous," Ting said. "I didn't get nervous until I played in college. When I was young, I thought I was invincible."