Posted on: Thursday, June 19, 2003

Wide range of ages vie for women's title

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Sixteen golfers between the ages of 13 and 60 will play in the women's State Match Play Championship starting Monday at Oahu Country Club.

The tournament, run by the Hawai'i State Women's Golf Association, is the second of three women's majors during the year. Stephanie Kono, who won the 2001 match-play title at the age of 11, captured the Jennie K. Wilson Invitational last month. She is not playing next week. Nor is Rachel Kyono, who will defend her HSWGA State Stroke Play Championship in August.

This year's match-play field includes Kihei elementary school teacher Bobbi Kokx, who defeated Kathy Tsukada to win last year.

Hawai'i Golf Hall of Famer Bev Kim is also playing. Kim won the first two match-play titles, in 1971 and '72, then won again seven years ago. Mahina Ah Yuen, the 1999 match-play champion, is the only other former winner in the event.

Ku'ulei Ka'ae, winner of the past two Waialae Women's Invitationals, is entered along with Lisa Kajihara, who finished third in the state high school championship.

The youngest player is 13-year-old Ayaka Kaneko. The oldest is Lily Yao, the 1999 State Senior Women's Champion, who turned 60 on Friday. Sharon Kong, the 1998 senior champion, is also playing, as is Marcie Rudich, 53, winner of the 1999 All-Services Invitational.

Players go out at 8 a.m. for Monday's qualifying round. The first round tees off at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. Wednesday's quarterfinals and Thursday's semifinals start at 8 a.m., and next Friday's final is at 7 a.m. Each round is scheduled for 18 holes. There is no admission charge.