Stephanie Kono doesn't care to follow in Michelle Wie's giant footsteps. She's quite content in laying down her own tracks to the top in women's golf.

Both Punahou School 16-year-olds will be playing in the U.S. Women's Open — the women's most prestigious major championship — along with two other Hawai'i products, Ayaka Kaneko, a sophomore-to-be at Sacred Hearts, and Kimberly Kim, formerly of the Big Island.

It's quite a testimony to the caliber of junior golf in Hawai'i.

Kono won the lone Hawai'i sectional spot Monday at the Ko Olina Golf Club, accomplishing what she called the "biggest goal" she had set out for herself in 2006.

"It just feels good to set a goal and to make it," said Kono, who adds that her next goal is to make the cut in this year's U.S. Women's Open at the Newport Country Club in Rhode Island two weeks from now.

Wie got in on a special exemption from the USGA, while Kim, who moved from her native Big Island to Arizona earlier this year, made it after a sectional qualifying in Michigan last week.

Kono has eschewed the path that Wie has taken to be the best, playing instead against her peers — and winning.

She recently won the state girls high school championship after posting back-to-back Interscholastic League of Honolulu titles. No one is betting against Kono making it four ILH titles in a row by the time she graduates from Punahou in 2008.

For now, it will be a busy summer for Kono, who received exemptions to the U.S. Women's Amateur and the U.S. Girls Junior Championship by qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open. She had already won the local qualifying for the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship starting next week in Pueblo, Colo.

Interestingly, Kono won't be defending two prestigious championships she won last year — the Westfield PGA of America Junior Championships and the German Junior Masters in Frankfurt, Germany.

The Westfield PGA conflicts with the U.S. Women's Amateur, while the event in Germany was moved back a couple of weeks, too close to the start of her junior year at Punahou.

"I can't go. That's a bummer," Kono said. "But at least I'll be playing in the Women's Amateur for the first time."

Kono will also be playing in the Rolex Tournament of Champions in Evergreen, Colo., and the McDonald's Betsy Rawls Girls Championship in Malvern, Pa., two American Junior Golf Association biggies in July.

Kono is confident her game will be ready for the imposing schedule ahead of her.

"My overall game has definitely improved. It has become more consistent. The biggest difference (from last year) is my putting. Right now, I'm putting well. That me got me through the local and sectional qualifying," Kono said.

She credits a 12-foot par-saving putt she made at the 12th green (her 21st of the day) for turning her game around in Monday's 36-hole qualifier in a day when her "driver was all over the course."

Now she hopes it'll provide the impetus for a successful summer of golf that'll have people asking about "that other 16-year-old golfer from Punahou."

SUPER CADDIE

It's a bird. It's a plane. It's .... Super Caddie.

That will be Kevin Ralbovsky, a local golf pro who will be caddying for his two prized students, Kono and Tadd Fujikawa in the two biggest golf majors for women and men.

Ralbovsky hopes both will make the cut so that he can tote each of their golf bags for 72 holes — first for 15-year-old Fujikawa in the U.S. Open starting today and Kono in the U.S. Women's Open in two weeks.

"I'm used to it. We walk 18 holes every day at Ko'olau (Golf Course)," said Ralbovsky, who instructs Kono and Fujikawa there every day of the week when they're not playing in a tournament.

He isn't surprised by the successes of his two proteges, who began taking lessons from him four years ago.

"I'm extremely proud of them. They've made tremendous sacrifices. They've worked harder than anybody else," he said.

Ralbovsky caddied for Kono in Monday's qualifying and flew out that night to go to the Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., in time for today's first round.

His good friend, Hokulia pro Ken Springer, handled caddie duties for Fujikawa's practice rounds.

"I asked him (Springer) about the notorious rough there," Ralbovsky said.

"What rough?" Springer replied. "Tad was hitting them so straight he hasn't seen the rough."

Ralbovsky will be a caddie/coach for his pupils. If they want.

"They're very good at reading putts, so I just kind of confirm it for them, if they ask," Ralbovsky said.

"I help them when they get in weird situations. I kind of help them with damage control. But when they're hitting fairways and greens, I'm just carrying their bags."