HOLES IN ONE
Kono comes up short in Jr. Ryder Cup bid
Advertiser Staff
Honolulu's Stephanie Kono finished eighth on the girls' points list used to determine the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team. The top six qualified for the team, which was announced yesterday by the PGA of America.
The full 12-player team (six girls and six boys) was chosen based on the Callaway Golf PGA Junior Series/Westfield Junior PGA Championship points list. The 2004 matches between the U.S. and European teams will be Sept. 11 and 12 at Westfield Group Country Club in Westfield Center, Ohio.
Kono, a Punahou freshman who defended her State Stroke Play Championship last week, finished with 230 points — 120 back of the sixth-place qualifier.
Tomorrow, University of Hawai'i freshman Travis Toyama will team with Kaua'i's Bret Netzer, Kellen Watabu and Chad Nonaka in the Hogan Memorial Cup, played at Riverside Country Club in Portland. The 54-hole tournament matches teams from the Western United States and Canada.
Saturday and Sunday, Sacred Hearts senior Kayla Morinaga and Hilo's Whitney Ueno will represent Hawai'i at the Mary Cave Cup. The two-person team event is at Cottonwood Golf Course in San Diego.
Ueno is subbing for Hilo's Amanda Wilson, who broke her foot. Dale Gammie and Kelly Nakashima lifted Hawai'i to a second-place finish behind Northern California in last year's inaugural tournament.
Tuesday, Kalaheo's Cory French, Pahoa's Kimberly Kim and Wahiawa's Britney Choy, the state high school champion, will play in the IRI Golf Group Tri-Cities Junior. The 72-hole American Junior Golf Association tournament will be at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco, Wash.
Ka'anapali junior events continuing
Ka'anapali Golf Courses on Maui are continuing their junior golf promotions through the end of the month. Golfers ages 7 to 17, including visitors, play free if accompanied by a paying adult. Last month, more than 700 took advantage of the offer.
The site is still taking players for its ongoing Junior Golf Program. For $20, juniors get group lessons on Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., for the rest of the month. Those who attend and pass a rules and etiquette test receive a photo ID good for one year of benefits, including free range balls and greens fees on the South Course after 4 p.m.
NOTES
- Former state high school champion Norman-Ganin Asao shot a second-round 71 yesterday and is tied for seventh halfway through the Grey Goose/Gateway Tour's 10th event. Asao opened with a 7-under-par 65 Tuesday at Desert Highlands Legend Trail Golf Club at Arizona. He trails the leader by three.
- Supporters of tomorrow's ninth annual Lanakila Tournament hope to raise more than $35,000. The tournament supports Lanakila's "programs and services that help seniors and persons with disabilities to overcome hurdles of everyday life." Honorary chair of the event is University of Hawai'i athletic director Herman Frazier.
