Toyama captures national golf title

Advertiser Staff

Travis Toyama, who became the youngest Manoa Cup champion last year, won the 35th annual Independent Insurance Agent Junior Classic yesterday and broke a Tiger Woods re-cord in the process.

Toyama, a University High senior from Kane'ohe, won the boys title by 10 strokes at Olde York Country Club in Columbus, N.J. Woods set the previous IIAJC record for winning margin when he won by nine strokes in 1992. That mark was tied last year by Kevin Silva in a rain-shortened 54-hole tourney.

After shooting 6-under 66 in the two middle rounds, Toyama closed with a 70 for a total of 11-under 277.

"Unreal," Toyama said, saying he thought about the record early but started playing for par when eventual boys runner-up Daniel Kefale, of Woodbridge, Va., cut the lead to four shots.

"It was very nerve-wracking off the first tee, and even the second and third," Toyama said. "But once I settled myself down, I got my game back to where it should be."

Toyama bogeyed the second and third holes, but came back to birdie the sixth, 12th and 17th.

"I realize I have potential now," Toyama said. "I have just got to work on my game to improve."

The IIAJC is a 72-hole, stroke-play tournament with a field of 120 boys and 54 girls from 42 states. More than 8,000 junior golfers attempted to qualify for the national event this year at state and regional qualifiers across the country.

Sukjin Lee Wuesthoff, who won the U.S. Junior Girls earlier this summer, overcame a five-stroke deficit in the final nine holes to win the girls title by two shots. She is from Toms River, N.J.

The Independent Insurance Agent Junior Classic website contributed to this report.