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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Seven Hawai'i golfers in U.S. Junior match play

Advertiser Staff

Ayaka Kaneko

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Four Hawai'i girls and three Hawai'i boys advanced to match play in U.S. Junior golf championships for youths under 18 yesterday.

Honolulu's Ayaka Kaneko shot a 3-over-par 75 and was tied for 12th at 146 after two rounds of stroke play of the U.S. Girls Junior at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, N.C.

The top 64 advanced to today's match play first round. The second round also will be played today.

Honolulu's Stephanie Kono (70) and former Hilo resident Kimberly Kim (71) finished tied for 23rd at 148, Britney Choy of Wahiawa (75) tied for 29th at 149.

Mina Harigae of Monterey, Calif., shot a 64 yesterday to win medalist honors at 138.

In the first round of match play, Kaneko plays Mackinzie Kline of Encinitas, Calif., Kono plays Courtney Harter of Clearwater, Fla., Kim plays Becca Huffer of Denver and Choy faces Alexandra Bodemann of Palm City, Fla. All but Choy are in the upper half of the bracket.

Kyung Kim of Wailuku, Maui, (75—154, tied for 73rd) and Miki Ueoka of Lihu'e, Kaua'i, (85—161, tied for 113th) missed the cut. A total of 156 golfers were entered.

At the boys U.S. Junior Amateur in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., Sean Maekawa of Pa'auilo, Hawai'i, shot a 1-over 73 and was tied for 11th at 143. Honolulu's Tadd Fujikawa was tied for 16th at 144 after a 70. Lihu'e's T.J. Kua was tied for 27th at 146 after a 71.

Arnond Vongvanij of Bradenton, Fla., shot a 67 and was the medalist at 136. A total of 156 golfers were entered with the top 64 advancing to today's first round of match play.

Maekawa will play Scott Pinckney of Anthem, Ariz., Fujikawa plays Jack Pines of Southern Pines, N.C., and Kua faces Danny Lee of New Zealand.

Both championships are conducted by the United States Golf Association and will end with 36-hole finals on Saturday.