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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, August 2, 2006

Kono, Fujikawa lift West into lead at Canon Cup

Advertiser Staff

Hawai'i's Stephanie Kono and Tadd Fujikawa teamed to win an afternoon match yesterday as the West took an 8-7 lead over the East at the 17th American Junior Golf Association's Canon Cup in Lake Forest, Ill.

Kono, a Punahou School junior, also won a four-ball match in the morning round, teaming with Jane Rah to defeat Megan Grehan and Kristina Wong, 3 and 1, at the Conway Farms Golf Club.

Fujikawa, a Moanalua High sophomore, and Gregor Main halved their match with David Yujin Chung and Ji Moon in the morning.

Kono and Fujikawa then beat Chung and In-Kyung Kim, 2 and 1, in the first mixed foursome match of the afternoon to put the West ahead 6-5.

"It was fun," Kono said. "We play together a lot and we know each other's game. It feels good to contribute to your team."

Kimberly Kim, a former Big Island resident, lost both of her matches.

The tournament brings together the nation's top 40 juniors in an East versus West (divided by the Mississippi River) match play format. Each squad consists of 20 players — 10 boys and 10 girls — who were selected based on an AJGA points system that rewarded them for top finishes in national junior golf events.

The tournament runs through tomorrow.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

OKINO PLACES THIRD

Honolulu's Cyd Okino shot a final-round 74 to finish third in the girls 12 division at the 2006 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, N.C., on July 27 through 29.

Okino's three-round total (71-71-74—216) left her six shots behind winner Dottie Ardina of the Phillippines.

Marissa Chow of Honolulu and Kelli Oride of Lihu'e, Kaua'i, finished tied for sixth in the same division. Chow shot 73-73-74—220 and Oride shot 72-75-73—220.

In the girls 11-under division, Kelli-anne Katsuda finished 22nd (79-78-88—245) and Kacie Komoto was 23rd (84-84-82—249).

In the girls 8-under division, Allisen Corpuz of Waipahu shot 34-30-34—98 to win the title. Corpuz finished seven shots ahead of the runner-up in the competition that featured nine-hole rounds.

In the boys 12-under division, Alexander Chiarella of Makawao, Maui, shot 68-74-74—216 to finish tied for ninth, finishing 10 shots behind the winner, Lorens Chan of Honolulu. Kyle Kurihara of Honolulu shot 85-83-78—246 to finish tied for 88th.

Kalena Perus of Honolulu finished tied for 20th in the boys 11-under division, shooting 71-77-75—223. The winner shot 203.

In the boys 10-under division, Richard Hattori of Honolulu shot 70-78-68—216 to finish 11th, 12 strokes behind the winner. Ho-nolulu's Justin Kurihara shot 73-76-74—223 to finish 23rd, and George Corpuz of Waipahu shot 77-78-79—234 to finish 62nd.

In the boys 9-under division, Donny Hopoi of 'Aiea shot 76-75-74—225 to finish tied for 18th, 24 shots behind the winner.

In the boys 8-under division, Kyle Suppa of Honolulu finished 23 strokes behind the winner in a tie for 48th, shooting 42-43-40—125.

The three-day tournament, which is the world's largest for youngsters 4 to 12 years of age, attracted 960 players from 47 states and 33 countries.