Steady Ka'ae repeats at Waialae
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Ku'ulei Ka'ae of Waikiki makes a living stringing together pretty flowers for her airport lei stand, Pua Melia.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
Yesterday, she repeated as Waialae Country Club Women's Invitational champion by stringing together beautiful putts en route to a 1-over-par 73.
"I love fast greens — that's my speed," said Ku'ulei Ka'ae, who repeated as the Waialae Country Club Women's Invitational champ.
"A lot of us women — not girls — are still trying to work hard in golf," said Ka'ae, 48. "I love my business, but this is my passion."
Her love for the game may have been tested a bit while struggling to a first-round 81 on Monday, including a frustrating triple-bogey 8 on the 18th hole. But that was quickly forgotten yesterday, when Ka'ae started her round with two birdies and two pars in the first five holes.
She went out at 1-over 37 and shot an even 36 on the back. Ka'ae's 73 was 10 strokes better than the next-best score, and she won the tournament by nine strokes over runner-up Tamiko Takabayashi (80-83—163).
Ka'ae, whose home course is Olomana, said distance was never a problem for her at Waialae. And yesterday's slick greens actually helped her putting.
"I love fast greens — that's my speed," Ka'ae said. "I've been hitting the ball better than last year, but today my putting was great. I made four long putts for birdie."
Ka'ae said she also got a lift from Caryn Morita, who was playing in the same group.
"She's a happy girl, and she kept me going," Ka'ae said. "She was awesome."
Staying focused on golf wasn't easy on Ka'ae leading up to the summer tournament season. May and June always are hectic times in the lei business, with graduations and weddings plentiful. But this year was more stressful than most because of a big storm that wiped out a portion of the flower supply, leading to shortages at lei stands.
"It was hard on my golf game," Ka'ae said. "I couldn't practice, I couldn't think."
That may have contributed to a mediocre performance in the Jennie K. Wilson Invitational in late May. Ka'ae rebounded to take third in the Pua Melia Invitational at Olomana last week, and Monday's 81 notwithstanding, she says yesterday's round is indicative of her current game.
"I'm shooting well," Ka'ae said.
Soon Young Miyamoto was the overall low net champion.
At Wai'alae Country Club, par 72 Overall Champion Ku'ulei Ka'ae 81-73—154 Low Net Soon Young Miyamoto 70-64(23)—134 Championship Flight Low Gross Tamiko Takebayashi 80-83—163 Low Net Becky Tesch 73-73(12)—146 A Flight Low Gross Jean Nagahiro 84-86—170 Low Net Nancy Hong 69-71(16)—140 B Flight Low Gross Hyon Suk Suh 88-92—180 Low Net Ann Weers 72-71(19)—143 C Flight Low Gross Sherry Glisson 96-88—184 Low Net Nancy Yoon 72-73(22)—145 D Flight Low Gross Olan Carpenter 97-93—190 Low Net Yoshiko Takemura 70-77(25)—147
Waialae Women's Open
Low Gross
Lily Yao 78-69(12)—147
Vivian Sasaki 75-73(11)—148
Pam Anderson 70-72(15)—142
Tina Cole 68-77(16)—145
Linette Tam 73-73(19)—146
Maud Chang 71-76(18)—147
Harriette Fujio 72-74(20)—146
Lorna Lin 74-73(22)—147
Jean Woodworth 76-72(23)—148
Pearl Stevens 74-82(25)—156
