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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 7:46 p.m., Friday, May 9, 2008

Soero, Okino lead U.S. Open local qualifiers

Advertiser Staff

KAHUKU — Pierre-Henri Soero, a University of Hawai'i alum, was the only golfer to break par in winds that gusted to 25 mph. His 2-under-par 70 was more than enough to earn medalist honors in the U.S. Open local qualifier, beating out 21 others today at Turtle Bay Resort's George Fazio Course.

Damien Jamila, an honorable mention All-American for UH in 1992, won a four-man playoff for the second spot. His par on the second playoff hole beat out 'Iolani eighth-grader Lorens Chan, Turtle Bay pro Kevin Carll and Thomas Foley, a pro from Florida. All had 73 to share second.

Punahou freshman Cyd Okino shot 72 to win medalist honors in the U.S. Women's Open local qualifier, played from tees 360 yards shorter.

So did Punahou junior Anna Jang, who followed up last year's individual state championship with a runner-up finish. She and Bridget Dwyer, a Punahou graduate and member of the Duramed Futures Tour, earned the two other women's slots by shooting 76.

Soero will play the sectional in Jupiter, Fla. Jamila, from Waimanalo, will play the sectional at Lake Merced Golf Club in San Francisco.

Okino and Jang will play Hawai'i's women's sectional June 9 at Turtle Bay's Arnold Palmer Course. Dwyer has opted for the sectional at Skokie Country Club in Glencoe, Ill.