Teammate Wilson finishes 2nd to help Warriors to team title

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

After finishing second twice, Waiakea senior Leah Whiting won the David S. Ishii Foundation State Girls Golf Championship yesterday at the Hawai'i Prince Course. Whiting shot a final-round 75 for a two-round total of 149. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

Whiting shot a 3-over 75 and finished with a two-day score of 5-over 149, one stroke better than freshman teammate Amanda Wilson, who had the day's best round at 74. Kaua'i junior Lehua Wise (75-152) finished third and Kamehameha freshman Mari Chun, the first-round co-leader, finished fourth after shooting a 79.

Waiakea also won the team title with a three-player, two-day score of 27-over 459. Hilo was second with a 479 and Baldwin (489) was third.

Whiting, regarded as one of Hawai'i's top junior golfers, finished second in the previous two state tournaments and was 12th as a freshman.

"This was a goal I had all year," said Whiting, who has signed a letter of intent to play for Oregon State next fall. "But the competition is getting stronger; everybody else really wanted it, too."

Whiting shared the first-round lead with Chun, who fell two strokes behind after a front-nine 39 and bogeyed three of the first four holes on the back. By that point, Whiting's strongest challenge would come from Wilson, who was just beginning a final five-hole string of two birdies and three pars. The scenario was one that had been played out several times this season.

"They were trying to challenge each other's scores in practice rounds — if one went 1-under, the other would try to go 2-under," Waiakea coach Lance Taketa said. "Anytime you play against top competition like that every day, it can only help your game. We're fortunate to have them both on the same team."

Wilson said "we were back and forth," and Whiting said, "We were pushing each other all the time. But we're good friends; we hang out together."

Whiting's only big stumble in yesterday's round came on the par-4 No. 8, which she double-bogeyed after going into the bushes and declaring an unplayable lie. She finished the front at 1-over 37, then bogeyed two of the first four holes on the back. But she went par-birdie-par-par on the next four holes, and needed only a bogey on the final hole to seal the victory.

Whiting got it despite pushing her approach shot onto a cart path and missing the green wide right.

"I was thinking a two-putt would be enough," Whiting said. "I just had to make sure I was in the right frame of mind."

Whiting lofted her 20-yard uphill chip to about 12 feet past the hole, easily converting the two-putt.

"I was driving the ball really good off the tee today, and that usually left me with a short iron to the green," Whiting said. "That helped me a lot. It's a relief to win."

Whiting is the fourth Neighbor Island golfer to win the girls title in the past five years, and all four girls team championships have gone to Neighbor Island schools.

David S. Ishii Foundation State Girls Golf Championships
At Hawai'i Prince Golf Course

Round Two

Team Results

1, Waiakea 229-230—459

2, Hilo 242-237—479

3, Baldwin 243-246—489

4, Kaua'i 253-242—495

5, Punahou 258-246—504

6, 'Aiea 267-257—524

7, Iolani 279-257—536

8, Moanalua 264-277—541

Individual Scoring

Leah Whiting, Waiakea 74-75—149

Amanda Wilson, Waiakea 76-74—150

Lehua Wise, Kaua'i 77-75—152

x-Mari Chun, Kamehameha 74-79—153

Kristen Higa, Hilo 76-78—154

Lindsay Hong, Punahou 77-78—155

x-Lisa Kajihara, King Kekaulike 78-78—156

x-Dale Gammie, St. Anthony 79-78—157

x-Chelcy Furtado, King Kekaulike 82-76—158

Ayumi Hori, Moanalua 77-81—158

Kayla Morinaga, Sacred Hearts 80-79—159

Kellie Kawahara, Waiakea 79-81—160

Whitney Ueno, Hilo 85-76—161

Kelly Nakashima, Baldwin 79-82—161

x-Rie Ganir, Maui 81-80—161

Stacie Nishimoto, Iolani 86-77—163

x-Jenna Fujimoto, Waiakea 80-83—163

x-Wendee Augustino, Kamehameha 80-84—164

Kelli Nakano, Baldwin 80-84—164

Kira-Ann Murashige, Hilo 81-83—164

Jayna Shimomura, Baldwin 84-80—164

x-Xrya Suyetsugu, Roosevelt 84-80—164

x-Tiffany Takao, McKinley 86-79—165

Megan Sakamoto, 'Aiea 86-82—168

Shelcie Takenouchi, Kaua'i 88-80—168

Dayna Park, Waiakea 80-88—168

Rak Kyung Oh, St. Andrew's 83-85—168

Andrea Souza, Sacred Hearts 85-84—169

x-playing as individuals