Updated at 10:08 p.m., Monday, April 30, 2007
Maluenda, Manini-Hewlin win OIA golf titles
By WES NAKAMA
Advertiser Staff Writer
But even eventual winners Haku Maluenda and Ha'aheo Manini-Hewlin did not expect to win the way they did.
Maluenda, a Campbell senior, began the second round yesterday at Leilehua Golf Course two strokes behind leader Jesse Aulelua of Castle.
"I thought I would have to shoot (2-under-par) 70 to win," he said.
As it turned out, Maluenda carded an even-par 72 and won by a whopping eight strokes. His two-day score was 144; he shot a 2-over 72 in the first round at Ala Wai on April 23.
Aulelua struggled to an 82—152 and finished in a three-way tie for second place with Moanalua's Tyler Shimomura and Kalani's Ryan Nagata.
Manini-Hewlin, a Roosevelt junior, also thought she would have had to shoot a lot lower yesterday to repeat as OIA champion — especially since Kalani's Nicole Sakamoto began the round with a five-stroke lead.
But like Aulelua, Sakamoto saw her title hopes slip away with an uncharacteristic 85.
Manini-Hewlin's 7-over 79 ended up being good enough by one stroke for the victory. Her two-round total was 158.
"I thought even (par) or under would win it," said Manini-Hewlin, who shot a first-round 79 to Sakamoto's 74. "I knew that I was behind five strokes and I had to do a lot. (Sakamoto) is usually really good, but today she had a bad day."
