Hori, Chulakote claim golf titles
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Moanalua High School senior Ayumi Hori won her third O'ahu Interscholastic Association golf championship in four years, Kailua senior Chase Chulakote won his first OIA title and Moanalua's girls and Mililani's boys took first place in the team standings yesterday at Turtle Bay's Palmer Course.
Mililani's team title was won in a one-hole playoff after the Trojans and Kailua finished tied in their four-man scores for two rounds (the boys first round was played April 21 at O'ahu Country Club).
Mililani's four-man aggregate score on the par-4 playoff hole (No. 1) was 17; Kailua's was 18.
But Kailua coach Ernie Foster angrily protested the final result during the awards ceremony, saying it never should have gone to a playoff. Foster said one of his players, Kyle Kunioka, was advised by officials to write a 9 (quadruple bogey) on his scorecard for the No. 7 hole when he actually should have recorded a 7.
Kunioka went into a water hazard on the hole and took an improper drop before correcting his mistake and taking another drop from the appropriate location.
OIA golf coordinator Duane Izumi said players are responsible for their own scoring, and when Kunioka approached him about the ruling, he advised him to take only a one-penalty stroke.
"I didn't tell him to 'take a 7' or 'take a 9;' I just told him to take the score where he would only be penalized for the water hazard and not the (improper drop)," Izumi said. "I thought he understood the explanation, and the players are responsible for posting their scores. Once the scores are posted, then that's it — we cannot change it afterward. It's unfortunate."
Hori and Chulakote took care of business early to win by four and two strokes, respectively.
Hori shot a 1-under 35 on the front and easily held off runner-up Randi Ono of Pearl City despite a 5-over 41 on the back.
"I mostly concentrated on my own game," said Hori, who shot an 8-over 80 in the first round at Mililani on April 21. "My coach (Kevin Hayashi) helped me with a lot of stuff mentally yesterday. He told me not to worry about what the other girls are doing."
Chulakote also had a strong front nine, going out at an even-par 36. He stayed even on the back until bogeys on the final two holes left him with a 2-over 38.
That still was enough to beat runner-up Alvin Okada of Wai'anae.
"I knew this course is not easy, so I just wanted to make a lot of pars and hopefully that would be good enough," Chulakote said. "After 12 (holes), I pretty much had a two-shot lead the rest of the way."
BASEBALL
• Maui wins title: Joseph Kala singled home Andrew Nakihei in the top of the seventh inning as Maui defeated Baldwin, 2-1, yesterday to capture the Maui Interscholastic League's regular-season championship.
Maui (14-1) earned a berth in the state tournament and will be the No. 1 seed in this week's MIL Tournament.
Vance Otake pitched a six-hitter and had two hits for the Sabers. Shevin Shima batted 3-for-3 to lead Baldwin (13-2).
Maui High (14-1) 001 000 1—2 9 1
Baldwin (13-2) 001 000 0—1 6 1
Vance Otake and Gavin Takakura. B.J. Strahan, Shevin Shima (7) and Mead Tabata, Gered Mochizuki (5). W—Otake. L—Strahan.
Leading hitters: Maui— Joseph Kala 2-2, 1 RBI; V. Otake 2-3. Baldwin—S. Shima 3-3, double; Marcus Makia double.
