"It feels good (to defend the record)," said Toyama, who became the youngest after winning the match-play tournament in 2002 at age 15. "Bradley played tough, and he's going to have a good future."

Toyama won the match 2 and 1, while Low eliminated Damien graduate Kurt Nino, 5 and 3.

All four golfers were bothered by heavy rain and wind, but the worst of it died down after the first 18 holes.

Toyama was just 1-up after the morning 18 holes, and again after 30 holes.

But Shigezawa conceded the next hole and couldn't win any more down the stretch against the University of Hawai'i at Manoa sophomore from Kane'ohe.

"It was pretty close," said Shigezawa. "Travis was just real steady throughout the day — he didn't leave me with very many opportunities."

The two played evenly over the next four holes — par, birdie, par, par — and that was enough to keep Shigezawa at bay, at least for this year.

Meanwhile, Low built a sizable lead over Nino, 17, the 2004 Hawai'i High School Athletic Association state champion, and 2003 Manoa Cup runner-up. Low led by five holes after the first 18, and again by five after 27.

I'd say Jacob took advantage of my bad shots," said Nino. "Whenever I took a bad shot, he'd play conservative and just win the hole. I had no rhythm at all."

However, Nino was not done.

With a birdie and two pars on the next three holes, he pulled to within 2-up of Low with six to play.

But then he bogeyed the 31st and 32nd holes, and any momentum he had was gone. His chip shot for birdie on the 33rd stopped inches from the cup, and Low sunk a 10-foot birdie putt to seal the match.

(I felt) relieved," said the 17-year-old Low, who just graduated from Hilo High. "I was happy I had a 5-up lead going into the back nine because it was slipping away fast."

None of the four would admit to being affected by the weather, especially the young Shigezawa.

"I think we're kinda used to it already," he said.

Toyama agreed to some extent.

Jacob Low closed out his semifinal match against Kurt Nino with this birdie put on the 33rd hole at Oahu Country Club. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Low wasn't too concerned about the natural distractions, saying they would affect all golfers evenly.

The finalists' legs seem to have held up on the notorious hills of OCC so far, but they'll have to endure up to 36 more holes today to decide who wins the Cup, as well as the traditional toss into the club's swimming pool that comes with it.

When nobody age 20 or older qualified for the semifinals, the Cup became a Hawai'i junior tour reunion — that's how the two finalists know each other.

"(Toyama) is a long driver," said Low, who was seeded 14th in the tournament. "He has a lot of skill. He can get the job done, but hopefully I can match him shot for shot."

Toyama had equal praise for his next opponent.

"I know Jacob's playing tough right now," said Toyama, who won last week's Coral Creek Classic tournament by five strokes. "I just gotta bring a good game tomorrow."

Both finalists shot a 74 at OCC for the qualifying round on Monday, and seemed equally as energetic going into the final day.

A glance at this year's Cup reveals that the younger crowd thrives off the tournament's traditional format, which calls for each golfer to walk the entire course themselves, including twice a day for the semifinals and today's final.

So while the "elder" Toyama has defended his record this year, he takes yesterday's victory with a grain of salt.

"There's a lot of up-and-coming junior golfers, and they're getting younger and younger all the time," he said. "Records are made to be broken, as they say."