Kimberly Kim and Stephanie Kono were named to the United States team for the Junior Solheim Cup yesterday.

The event in Bastad, Sweden, on Sept. 10 to 12 will precede the Solheim Cup. Both events pit 12 of the top American golfers against a team of European golfers.

Members of the Junior Solheim Cup team were selected based on their rankings. Kim, a 15-year-old former Big Island resident now living in Arizona, will be making her second Junior Solheim Cup appearance. She is currently ranked No. 2 in the Polo Golf Rankings and No. 3 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings. This year, Kim won the Heather Farr Classic, Thunderbird International Junior and was the runner-up at the Westfield Junior PGA.

Kono, a 17-year-old Punahou senior, is ranked fifth in the Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings. Kono won the Westfield Junior PGA in 2005 and was the state high school champion in 2006.

The United States leads the biennial event 2-1-0. The host team has yet to lose.

U.S. JUNIOR SOLHEIM CUP TEAM

Sydney Burlison, Salinas, Calif.

Brianna Do, Lakewood, Calif.

Courtney Ellenbogen, Blacksburg, Va.

Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif.

Vicky Hurst, Melbourne, Fla.

Kimberly Kim, Pahoa

Stephanie Kono, Honolulu

Isabelle Lendl, Bradenton, Fla.

Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif.

Kristen Park, Buena Park, Calif.

Jane Rah, Torrance, Calif.

Allie White, Lancaster, Ohio

KANEKO WINS TWICE

Ayaka Kaneko won both of her matches yesterday to help the West team pull ahead at the Canon Cup.

At the team match-play event at The Honors Course in Ooletwah, Tenn., Kaneko teamed with Kristen Park to beat the East team's Isabelle Lendl and Kristina Wong, 1-up. Later in the afternoon's mixed format, the Sacred Hearts senior teamed with Sam Chien to beat Morgan Hoffmann and Alexis Thompson, 2 and 1.

The West team leads the East, 18-11, after starting the day behind 8-7. The West team has won the event since 2005.

Former Big Island and current Arizona resident Kimberly Kim and Josh Jones defeated the East's Wesley Graham and Lindy Duncan, 5 and 4. Kim and Mina Harigae halved their match with Lindy Duncan and Michelle Shin.

Punahou senior Stephanie Kono and Taylore Karle lost to Marika Lendl and Courtney Ellenbogen, 2 and 1.

The three-day event concludes today.

KUA GETS EXEMPTION

T.J. Kua of Lihu'e was one of eight junior golfers to receive an exemption to the Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.

The tournament, an official Champions Tour event that pairs 78 junior golfers with 78 professionals and 156 amateurs, will take place Aug. 27 to Sept. 2 at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte Golf Course in Monterey, Calif., and will be televised nationally on The Golf Channel.

The eight juniors who received exemptions will join 60 who qualified during the Participant Selection Process at Kansas State University, and 10 who qualified through a Regional Open Qualifier that took place in June.

FREE CLINIC AT KO OLINA

"Maximizing Your Power," a free clinic conducted by PGA Professionals from Ko Olina Golf Academy, will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. on Ko Olina Golf Club's grass driving range.

The clinic will focus on increasing clubhead speed, improving flexibility and proper club fitting.

From 10 a.m. to noon, golfers will be able to test equipment from Callaway, Nike, Ping, TaylorMade and TourEdge. Ko Olina's PGA professionals will guide participants through the club and fitting options.