Updated at 3:39 p.m., Monday, October 22, 2007
Golfers Kim, Kono, Kaneko named Jr. All-Americans
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i golfers Kimberly Kim, Stephanie Kono and Ayaka Kaneko were named first-team Rolex Junior All-Americans by the American Junior Golf Association today, thus joining an esteemed collection of current and former top-level junior golfers from around the world.Kim, 16, formerly of Pahoa on the Big Island, was named for the fourth time.
In four years competing in AJGA events, Kim only placed outside the top 25 once, and has earned 13 top-10 finishes.
In 2007, Kim posted a 7-under-par 209 for top honors at the ReBath Heather Farr Classic in Mesa, Ariz., and a 10-under-par 206 for her second victory of the year at the Thunderbird International Junior in Scottsdale, Ariz. Kim was also runner-up at The PING Invitational at Karsten Creek Golf Club in October. Kim finished the season ranked No. 2 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings.
Kono, 17, a senior at Punahou School, is a three-time Rolex Junior All-American. She is a two-time member of the Canon Cup West Team, with an overall record of 6-2-0.
In her career, she has celebrated 12 top-five finishes in national junior golf events. Kono, ranked No. 3 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings, has verbally committed to UCLA.
Kaneko, 17, a senior at the Sacred Hearts Academy, is a two-time Rolex Junior All-American.
She had five top-10 finishes during the 2007 season, including a victory at the Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior and a runner-up finish during the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship.
Kaneko was a member of the victorious Canon Cup West Team where she went undefeated. She finished the season ranked No. 6 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings. Kaneko has verbally committed to Pepperdine University in the fall of 2008.
Former Rolex Junior All-Americans include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory Sabbatini, Jim Furyk and Sergio Garcia of the PGA Tour and Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel, Angela Park and Brittany Lincicome of the LPGA.
