Punahou senior Anna Jang earned a share of 16th place at the Walmart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach last weekend. Jang was paired with Champions Tour golfer Massy Kuramoto in the better-ball format, played in conjunction with the regular tour event, won by Jeff Sluman.

Jang and Kuramoto opened with a 71 at Pebble Beach. They fired an 11-under-par 62 in Saturday's second round at the Old Delmonte Golf Course to move into a tie for fifth. On the final day they shot 72, finishing 14 shots behind winner Sydney Burlison, from Salinas, Calif., and her partner Fuzzy Zoeller.

Jang, a member of Punahou's state championship team the past two years and the 2007 individual state champion, earned an exemption into the field that was given to the Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association. There were 78 juniors participating.

MERKLE GETS EXEMPTION

Reigning state high school champion Kristina Merkle has received the second exemption into the Tuesday qualifying for next month's inaugural Kapalua LPGA Classic. Merkle, a Moanalua High School senior, joins Punahou sophomore Cyd Okino in the Oct. 14 qualifying.

The tournament will be Oct. 16 to 19 at Kapalua's Bay Course. Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam have committed to play in the full-field (132 players) event, which is a stopover for the LPGA as it heads to China, South Korea and Japan.

All rounds will be broadcast on The Golf Channel. The $1.5 million tournament offers $225,000 to the winner. Tickets are $10 daily (Thursday to Sunday) or $35 for a season pass valid all week.

CLINIC AT KO OLINA

There will be a free Play Golf America Golf Clinic at Ko Olina Golf Club Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The focus will be power golf and it will be followed by a club fitting and demonstration.

September is Titleist Fitting Month at Ko Olina, with PGA staff members providing a 30-minute custom fitting using Titleist's new SureFit System. There is special pricing on Titleist irons throughout the month. Call the Golf Shop (676-5300) for an appointment.