4 ex-champs advance at Manoa Cup

Advertiser Staff

Four former champions and two guys from opposite ends of the age spectrum advanced yesterday through the first two rounds of the Manoa Cup. The state amateur match play championship is at Oahu Country Club.

Randy Shibuya, the 2000 champion, ousted defending champion Kellen-Floyd Asao, 2 and 1, in the second round. Brandan Kop and Guy Yamamoto, who have six Manoa Cups between them, also won their matches, as did 1996 champion Damien Victorino.

OCC member Ronald Haranda, 53, reached the third round with a 7-and-6 win. Tadd Fujikawa, 13, advanced on the opposite side of the bracket, winning both his matches by 1-up scores.

Fujikawa plays Hee Beom Kim, a semifinalist here two years ago, this morning. Kim defeated Nathan Magno, 3 and 1, in the second round. Earlier, Magno beat state high school champion Kurt Nino, 1-up. Nino reached the Manoa Cup final last year.

University of Hawai'i-Hilo's Troy Higashiyama, the 2003 state high school champion, plays Victorino this morning. Higashiyama birdied the first extra hole (No. 1) yesterday to win his second-round match over Sean Doi.