Posted on: Saturday, June 25, 2005

ISLE FILE
Juniors qualify for world golf event

Advertiser Staff

Summer golf started in earnest for juniors yesterday, with 22 players qualifying on Kaua'i for next month's Junior World Championship.

There were 22 golfers ages 13 to 17 who qualified over 36 holes — six boys and six girls in the older age division (15-17) and five each for the younger (13-14). The boys played Wailua Golf Course at 7,000 yards and the girls at 6,000.

Golfers ages 7 to 12 qualified at Kaua'i Lagoons' Mokihana Course, but results were not available last night.

Girls medalists were Ayaka Kaneko (72-70) in the older division, and Kimberly Kim (71-72). Boys medalists were Sean Maekawa (75-71) for the older boys and Taeksoo Kyung (76-77) for the younger ones. Miki Ueyoka shot the best score at Wailua, closing with a 68 to finish second to Kim

They will play July 12 to 15 at courses across San Diego. Four qualifiers, including Maekawa and Kim, declined their slots because they had already qualified for Mainland events with conflicting dates.

Hayashi at 9-over par

Hilo's Kevin Hayashi shot a 77 yesterday in the 38th PGA Club Professional Championship at Kiawah Island, S.C.

At 9-over-par 153, Hayashi is tied for 54th and nine shots off the lead going into the weekend. Travis Long and Alan Morin are at even-par. No golfer is under par at the Ocean Course.

Suzy Whaley, the only female in the field, shot 74 yesterday and is one ahead of Hayashi.

Hayashi, a teaching pro at Mauna Kea Resort, tied for 27th last year.

ESPN Challenge

Golfers can still enter the 2005 ESPN National Golf Challenge. The ChiroPlan Hawai'i Local Qualifier is July 24 at 8 a.m. at Turtle Bay Resort's Arnold Palmer Course.

The national event is an amateur two-person better-ball tournament with gross and net divisions. The top five teams advance to Regional Finals, Aug. 7, at Turtle Bay. Regional winners advance to the National Finals Nov. 14 and 15 at the Bali Hai and Royal Links Golf Clubs in Las Vegas. The final will be televised on ESPN2.

All participants receive Callaway golf balls and a subscription to Golf Magazine. The event is a benefit for the V-Foundation for cancer research. Entry fee is $110.

For more information, call Turtle Bay's Matt Hall at 293-8574.

Prep stars in tourney

Courtney Kessell (Kailua High), Tajia Acierto (Kapolei) and Marina Gusman-Brown (Pearl City) are among numerous prep stars and high school graduates participating in the 37th Annual Colorado Fireworks College Exposure Softball Tournament, June 29 to July 3 at Aurora, Colo.

Hawai'i will be represented by two teams in the 18-under, 140-team showcase. The Pearls will be coached by Randy Oyama (University High), Tony Saffery (Kapolei) and Dickie Titcomb (Kamehameha). Mitch Matsumoto (Moanalua) and Lene Tausaga (Kaimuki) will coach Kamikaze.