Honolulu's Ayaka Kaneko won two matches today to advance to the semifinals of the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at Lakewood, Wash. Robert Walker | USGA   Stephanie Kono of Honolulu defeated former Hilo resident Kimberly Kim on the 23rd hole to advance to the semifinals of the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship. Robert Walker | USGA

Kono, a Punahou School student, birdied the 23rd hole, a par 4, while Kim parred it.

Kim, a former Big Island resident now living in Arizona, came back from being 2 down to Kono on the 10th hole, to squaring the match on the 16th.

Ayako Kaneko, of Honolulu, was also involved in a marathon quarterfinal, beating Sue Kim of Canada in their quarterfinal contest on the 24th hole.

The longest match in tournament history was 25 holes in 1980.

In tomorrow's semifinal, Kono will face Kristen Park of Buena Park, Calif. Park beat Haley Sanders of Rogers, Ark., on the 19th hole in their quarterfinal match.

In the other semifinal, Kaneko will face Michelle Shin of Cape Coral, Fla. Shin beat Sarah Brown of Lopatcong, N.J., 4 and 3 in the quarterfinals.

In the round of 16 matches earlier today, Kim beat Mary Michael Maggio of Conway, Ark., 2 and 1.

Kono needed 20 holes to dispatch Maria Uribe of Colombia, meaning the Honolulu resident played 43 holes of golf today. Kono parred the 20th hole, a par 4, and Uribe bogeyed it.

Kaneko defeated Mina Harigae of Monterey, Calif., the No. 3 seed who knocked off Kim in this year's Women's Public Links, 1 up, in her round of 16 match.