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

Komoto, 14, wins women's stroke play title

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


    By Kalani Takase
    Advertiser Staff Writer

     • Wie four back at British Open
    Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

    Kacie Komoto

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    LANIKAI — Kacie Komoto doesn't get rattled very easily.

    That was evident yesterday as the 14-year-old, who led by two strokes after Wednesday's second round, shot a 4-over-par 76 to win the Hawai'i State Women's Stroke Play Championship at Mid-Pacific Country Club.

    Komoto, who will be a freshman at Punahou School, finished three strokes ahead of runner-up Eimi Koga, a 13-year-old who will play for Moanalua High School, and four ahead of Kristina Merkle, the two-time state high school champion for Moanalua and three-time winner of the Jennie K. Wilson Invitational.

    "I think I played pretty well, but there were a couple times that I made some mistakes, but I just kind of pushed through it and tried my best the whole way," Komoto said.

    Despite holding the lead going into the final round, Komoto said she wasn't nervous.

    "Actually I had a good night's sleep," she laughed. "I got probably eight or nine hours."

    There were clear skies over Lanikai yesterday, but gusty trade winds and fast-rolling greens resulted in higher scores. The lowest round was turned in by Koga, who shot 74 with three bogeys, and a birdie on No. 4. Merkle closed with a 78.

    Komoto played the front nine at 2-over and made the turn with a one-stroke lead over Merkle.

    Komoto stumbled with a double-bogey at the par-5, 532-yard 12th hole. Her third shot — a short iron from about 90 yards, playing uphill — found the front right bunker. Komoto's fourth shot sailed over the green. Her ensuing chip shot put her within 10 feet and she two-putted from there.

    "I had some trouble today, but I knew that I wasn't out of it, so I just kept trying to focus one shot at a time," Komoto said.

    Both Merkle and Koga made par on No. 12, but each followed with a bogey on the par 4 13th — which Komoto birdied.

    "I was telling her that there's still a lot of holes left and anything can happen," said Kevin Ralbovsky, Komoto's coach and caddie.

    Komoto took advantage of an uncharacteristic double-bogey by Merkle on the par-5 16th by making a birdie to take a three-stroke lead.

    "I'm so proud of her, especially with the circumstances today where she had the lead and then lost the lead and then fought back and she played those last four holes really, really strong," Ralbovsky said.

    "The whole tournament came down to those four holes and she played it 1-under and that's unbelievable today."