Kim, a 15-year-old former Big Island resident now living in Arizona, defeated the Sacred Hearts senior, 1-up, at Crooked Stick Golf Club.

"My attitude — since I was playing Ayaka — after the first nine holes was if I lose this match, it was a great match," Kim said on a story on the tournament Web site. "We both played very well. Even if I won or lost, I couldn't feel too bad. She shouldn't feel bad because she played really well."

Kaneko, runner-up at July's U.S. Girls' Junior Championship, was "very disappointed" with the loss.

"I played solid, but Kim just made more putts," said Kaneko, who roomed with Kim at last week's Canon Cup in Tennessee. "I had some chances, but I couldn't make any putts."

Neither player led by more than one hole during the match.

"I would win a hole and then do something stupid," Kim said. "I thought the seventh hole was a turning point because I made a birdie and then I hit my drive into the water (on the eighth) and then I hit an iron into the water.

"Then I made birdie at 9 and thought that was a turning point."

Kim will face 17-year-old Rikako Morita of Japan tomorrow. At 14, Kim became the tournament's youngest champion last year.

Mari Chun, a Kamehameha alumna and Stanford golfer, lost to Michelle Shin of Florida 1-up.

Also, two 12-year-olds will meet in the second round. Pearl Jin of California and Alexis Thompson of Florida became the youngest players to qualify for match play in the tournament's 112-year history. Thompson defeated Kim at this year's Westfield Junior PGA Championship.