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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 1:51 p.m., Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Kono ousts 12-year-old Alexis Thompson in Jr. golf

Advertiser Staff

Honolulu's Stephanie Kono upset child star Alexis Thompson today, 4 and 2, in a Round of 32 match at the U.S. Girls' Junior at Tacoma Country & Golf Club in Lakewood, Wash.

The eighth-seeded Thompson, 12, made headlines recently, becoming the youngest qualifier in U.S. Women's Open history.

Thompson also edged Kimberly Kim two weeks ago in win the Westfield Junior PGA Championship.

The 17-year-old Kono, seeded No. 25, won the first hole with a par and the third with a birdie-2. She lost the fourth hole and maintained a 1-up lead until she won No. 8 with a birdie-3, No. 9 with a birdie-4 and No. 10 with a par.

Thompson closed the deficit to three holes by winning No. 15 but Kono birdied the par-5 No. 16 to close out the match.

Earlier in the day, Kono, a Punahou School student, beat No. 40 Stephanie Kim of Bayside, N.Y., 1-up.

Former Big Island resident Kimberly Kim was the top seed in the tournament. Kim won both her matches today.

The Round of 16 and quarterfinal matches will be played tomorrow.