Low, Heirakuji earn Publinx spots

Advertiser Staff

Hilo's Jacob Low shot a 68-74—142 to win the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championships sectional qualifier at Ala Wai Golf Course on Saturday.

On Maui, Makawao's Royden Heirakuji defeated Jay Kurisu in a playoff to win the sectional at Waiehu Municipal Golf Course.

The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championships is July 11 to 16 at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio.

Low, 17, finished a stroke ahead of first alternate Matthew Ma, who shot 3-over par 143 (70-73).

Ryan Perez will serve as second alternate after a 70-76—146.

Chan Kim also shot a 146 (71-75). Kim won the Aloha Section Westfield Junior Championship on Friday and will go to the national tournament, July 13 to 16 at Westfield Group Country Club in Ohio.

Heirakuji shot 72-68 and Kurisu 69-71 to tie after regulation at 140 at the par-72 Waiehu course.

Kevin Shimamura finished third with a 67-76—143.

Others from Hawai'i who qualified for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championships are Jonathan Ota (Lihu'e, Kauai), Sean Maekawa (Hilo, Hawai'i) and Honolulu's Michelle Wie.

Wie, 15, became the first female to qualify for the men's U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship by tying for first in a Pennsylvania qualifier last week.

Wie will play in her second LPGA major in three weeks, the U.S. Women's Open Championship, starting Thursday at Cherry Hills Village, Colo.

Japan's Kaori Higo won the Hawai'i sectional for the U.S. Women's Open last month.