Kono-inspired keiki vie for junior honors
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
'EWA BEACH — Menehune golfers marched around Hawai'i Prince Golf Club hidden by bags bigger than they were in yesterday's final round of the Callaway Hawai'i State Junior Golf Championships.
The sixth annual event, which began with the birth of the Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association, grew so large it split into two venues this year.
For the past two days, 91 girls and boys ages 14 and under — including seven from Guam — played in three age divisions. Next week, 76 golfers between 15 and 18 compete at the Club at Hokuli'a on the Big Island.
The swarm of golf bags at the Prince the past two days was a rolling testament to the drawing power of Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam and ... Punahou freshman Stephanie Kono?
"I like to watch Stephanie," said Tadd Fujikawa, 13, who won a Callaway title for the second year in a row. "She's so cool."
Fujikawa (74-76) won his division by four. Cyd Okino, 10, captured the youngest girls division by eight. She agreed with Fujikawa's choice of role models.
"Stephanie always keeps her cool," Okino said. "She always looks like she's playing good."
Okino had every reason to look like she was playing well until the final hole yesterday. She took a seven there, turning a sub-par score into a 2-over 74.
The 10-and-unders played Prince's B and C layouts at approximately 4,500 yards. Girls and boys ages 11 and 12 played it at 5,500 yards. The 13-14 boys played the blue tees at 6,400 yards and the 13-14 girls played the orange tees at 6,100 yards.
The big bump in yardage had no effect on Ha'aheo Manini-Hew Len's game. The 13-year-old followed Fujikawa's lead, winning the 11-12 division last year, then capturing the 13-14 yesterday with rounds of 76-79.
Manini-Hew Len reached the quarterfinals of last week's women's State Match Play Championship. She plans to be in the Stroke Play next month. She, too, is impressed with golfers who can stay cool when all is going crazy around them. Her favorite player is her grandfather, Richardson Manini, because "he's so calm about it all."
Pearl Magallanes, 11, of Guam, shot 1-over 73 Tuesday and 83 yesterday to take her age division by four. "I hit bad today," Magallanes admitted, "but yesterday was good."
Ryan Kuroiwa, 10, opened with a 69 and closed with 74 to win the youngest boys division by two. He is also a Kono fan because "She's a nice person and I kind of know her."
He also plays something like Kono, who completed her career grand slam of Hawai'i women's majors last summer at age 13. Kuroiwa practices and plays nearly every day now, after going through a short victory drought.
"I have to practice so I can keep up with the other guys," said Kuroiwa, who has golfed half his life. "Before I used to win a lot. But they've gotten better and better."
Bradley Shigezawa, 12, had the day's low score. He dropped in two 20-foot-plus eagle putts en route to a 68 and finished the tournament at 5-under 139.
Shigezawa's coach is Casey Nakama, whose present and former academy students filled nearly a third of the field.
Shigezawa started golfing soon after his grandfather, Harou, retired and took up the game. He put a net in his backyard and Bradley practiced whenever he came over. He tried other sports, but found golf provided the most immediate gratification.
"It just shows that hard work pays off," Shigezawa says. "You practice hours and hours, and it shows in your game."
NOTES: The second day of next week's Callaway Hawai'i State Junior Championships will be a qualifier for the national Independent Insurance Agent Classic. Travis Toyama, who will play for the University of Hawai'i-Manoa in the fall, won last year's "Big I." ... Players in next week's field include defending boys champion Allan Baab, Manoa Cup champion Ryan Perez and State Women's Stroke Play champion Mari Chun.
Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.
