Posted on: Thursday, July 29, 2004
Youth shattered tournament records last year
Advertiser Staff
Stephanie Kono is home to defend her title in the 2004 Hawai'i State Women's Golf Association Stroke Play Championship, Tuesday to Thursday at Mid-Pacific Country Club. Play begins at 9:15 a.m. each day.
Kono shattered records last year, at age 13, when she won the title by a dozen shots. Her three-day total of 4-under-par 212 was five better than the previous tournament low. She is the only golfer to ever finish the event under par.
The stroke-play championship, the third of the three Hawai'i women's majors, started in 1962.
Kono's victory last year completed her "grand slam" of Hawai'i women's majors. She also won the Jennie K. last year and captured the State Match Play title at age 11.
Desiree Ting, Mari Chun and Rachel Kyono tied for second at Stroke Play last year. All but Ting are playing this year; entries will be accepted through this weekend.
Kyono, who will be a senior at Pepperdine in the fall, has finished in the top three all five years she has played this event. The 2001 state high school champion from Kaua'i won it in 2000 and 2002, and took second behind Michelle Wie in 2001.
Chun captured the State Match Play Championship earlier this year. The Kamehameha senior also won a Junior World title this summer.
Stacie Nishimoto, who lost to Chun in the Match Play final, is also in the field, as are Kayla Morinaga and Ayumi Hori.
Golfers with a handicap index of 9.4 or less are eligible to play in the tournament. To enter, call 262-2428.
Juvic Pagunsan came from the Philippines to capture Hawai'i's U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifier on Tuesday at Honolulu Country Club. Pagunsan beat 18 others by shooting 71-67 for a 36-hole total of 6-under-par 138.
The first alternate is Hilo's Jarett Hamamoto (67-73), who will be playing for University of Hawai'i-Manoa in the fall. Kapa'a's Casey Watabu (72-70), who plays for Nevada, is second alternate and 'Aiea's Matthew Ma (72-71), who plays for Oregon, is third alternate.
Pagunsan advances to the national championship at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamoroneck, N.Y., Aug. 16 to 22.
• The second annual Women Drivers Golf Tournament is sold out. The Aug. 9 tournament at Mid-Pacific Country Club will benefit the American Red Cross-Hawai'i State Chapter and the Hawai'i Family Support Institute, dedicated to the prevention of child abuse.
• Local qualifying for the USGA Senior Women's Amateur is Sept. 14 at Honolulu Country Club. Players must be at least 50, with a handicap index of 18.4 or less. Entry deadline is Aug. 18, at usga.org. The national event is Oct. 9 to 14 at Pasatiempo at Santa Cruz, Calif. • The 31st annual Waikoloa Open will be Sept. 24 to 26 at Waikoloa Village. Entry deadline is Sept. 17. Applications are available at Waikoloa Village's Pro Shop or online at 808Golf.com. Call 883-9621 for more information.
Philippine golfer wins amateur sectional
Short Putts
