No sophomore jinxes for golf champs
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
'AIEA — Two sophomores who were nowhere to be found in last year's O'ahu Interscholastic Association golf title picture captured OIA individual championships yesterday at Pearl Country Club.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
Roosevelt's Xyra Suyetsugu birdied the first sudden-death playoff hole to defeat Moanalua's Ayumi Hori for the girls title, and Arnold Sano of Moanalua shot an even-par 72 to finish the two-day event with a score of 4-over 148, a stroke better than runner-up Bronson Kalilikane of Mililani.
Moanalua's Arnold Sano watches his putt roll toward the hole on No. 9. Sano won the OIA's boys golf title.
When asked how she fared in last year's OIA tournament, Suyetsugu said, "I don't remember ... I wasn't even close (to winning)."
Sano said pretty much the same. Yesterday, consistent play proved to be the winning formula for both.
Suyetsugu, who shot a 9-over 81 in last week's first round at Hawai'i Prince to lead by one stroke over Hori, struggled to a 6-over 42 on yesterday's front nine. But she started the back nine with four pars and a birdie and finished with two pars and a birdie to come in at 1-under 35.
"I was just trying to play straight and play smart," said Suyetsugu, who was hurt by a triple-bogey 8 on No. 5 after going out of bounds.
Suyetsugu and Hori each parred 18 to force the sudden-death hole. After Hori's approach on the par-5 No. 1 stopped about 15 feet past the hole, Suyetsugu stuck hers three feet from the pin with a sand wedge from about 50 yards.
Hori pushed her birdie try just right of the hole, and Suyetsugu sank her birdie putt to win the title.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
Sano, who shot a 4-over 76 in last week's first round at O'ahu Country Club, began yesterday four strokes off the lead. He did not know — or care — about being in contention until after the 13th hole.
Xyra Suyetsugu sinks a 3-foot birdie to win the O‘ahu Interscholastic Association girls golf title.
"I had a goal to shoot even par, and I thought of nothing else," Sano said. "Even after (an even-par 36) front nine, I figured I was still three or four strokes behind."
Sano learned he was only a stroke back after No. 13, then birdied 14 and bogeyed 15. He finished with three straight pars, enough to win the championship.
"My short game really helped me today," Sano said. "On the holes I didn't get on in regulation, I would chip and one-putt. That's how I got my pars."
Still, the title was a surprise.
"I was shocked, I was really happy," Sano said. "My main goal was just to finish in the top three. I actually did a lot better than I thought."
ILH GOLF
• Finals today: Four boys will take par or lower scores into the final round of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship tournament today at Waialae Country Club.
Defending champion Christian Akau of Kamehameha shot a 5-under 66 and Matthew Ma of Iolani a 4-under 67 Monday at O'ahu Country Club. Chris Souza and Chris Caycayon, both of Kamehameha, shot 70 and 71, respectively.
Mari Chun of Kamehameha leads the girls going into the second round with a 3-over 76.
ILH boys have shot 39 rounds of 72 or better this season in 11 rounds of league competition.
