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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, July 31, 2009

Hilo's Min finishes fourth at Big 'I' national event


    Advertiser Staff

     • Komoto, 14, wins women's stroke play title

    Hilo's Ciera Min finished fourth yesterday at the 41st annual Trusted Choice Big "I" National Championship at Dornick Hills Country Club in Ardmore, Okla.

    The high school freshman closed with a 77. Her four-day total of 303 was 10 shots behind the winner, Caroline Powers, who just graduated from high school in Bowling Green, Ohio. High school senior Lizzie Bundy (299), from Clayton, N.C., was next.

    Haiku's Justin Keiley closed fast in the boys division, firing a 3-under-par 67 to move up six spots to ninth. His 280 total was also 10 shots out of first. The winner was Denny McCarthy of Maryland, who shot a final-round 65.

    • In the third round of the 34th Junior PGA Championship at TPC River's Bend in Cincinnati, Hilo native Kimberly Kim pulled into second in the girls division, four shots behind 14-year-old Alexis Thompson going into today's final round.

    Kim, the 2006 U.S. Women's Amateur Champion headed for University of Denver, shot a 3-under-par 69 for a 209 total. Former Maui resident Kyung Kim (76—226) is tied for 25th. Hilo's Britney Yada (82—237) missed the cut, which came at 234.

    Play was suspended in the afternoon when PGA Rules officials deemed the course unplayable due to rain and casual water on the course. The girls division had just concluded, while the boys division had just begun. Kane'ohe's Alika Bell is tied for 30th.

    • Honolulu's Hee Sue Condry finished fourth at the 32nd annual Girls Junior America's Cup at Logan Golf & Country Club in Logan, Utah. Condry shot 72-71-75 to finish six shots behind medalist Emily Tubert (72—212) of Southern California.

    The Hawai'i team placed fifth at 26-over 665. Southern California won with 646.

    Cassy Isagawa, of Wailuku, was Hawai'i's next finisher, tying for 18th at 75—223. Honolulu's Alina Ching (77—227) tied for 26th and Honolulu's Alice Kim (75—228) shared 29th. All four Hawai'i golfers are high school juniors.

    The Hawai'i boys tied for 12th at the 37th annual Boys Junior America's Cup at Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena, Calif. Nainoa Calip (72) of Hilo and Alex Chiarella (73) of Makawao were Hawai'i's top finishers individually, tying for 27th at 14-over-par 224.

    The medalist was Justin Shin, from British Columbia, who closed with a 68 for a three-day total of 5-under 205. Yuki Kato (68—209), from Las Vegas, was the only other golfer under par.

    British Columbia won the team title with 2-over 632. Hawai'i's team total was 673. The other two team members were Bou An Fujieki (76—227) and Justin Chu (89—249).

    • Punahou senior Bradley Shigezawa of Honolulu shot an even-par 72 and is six strokes behind leader Leandro Marelli of Argentina after the first round of the Optimist International Junior Championships for boys and girls ages 16 to 18 at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

    Shigezawa won the 2005 title, when he was in the 12-13 division.

    Christian Agosto of Waipahu shot a 79, while Honolulu's Brian Lee (80) and Brett Komoto (83) round out the Hawai'i players in the boys division. Marelli has a two-shot lead after a 66. The tournament runs through Sunday.

    In the girls division, Honolulu's Michelle Chen and Mililani's Kristen Sawada shot 82s and are 10 shots back of co-leaders Chihiro Ikeda of the Philippines and Paola Valerio of Mexico.

    • University of San Diego sophomore Alex Ching earned Hawai'i's one slot in the U.S. Amateur Championship Wednesday at Honolulu Country Club. Ching shot 66-68 for a total of 10-under 134, beating out 22 others.

    University of Oregon junior Sean Maekawa is first alternate, with scores of 69-69. 'Iolani sophomore Lorens Chan (72-69) is second alternate. The national championship is Aug. 24 to 30 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.