ISLE FILE
Kono third in junior international golf
Advertiser Staff
Despite two double bogeys, Punahou sophomore Stephanie Kono shot a 2-over 74 and finished three shots back in third place at the Thunderbird International Junior yesterday in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Kono, the state high school champion, made three birdies, but bogeyed the par-4 12th and suffered double bogeys on the par-3 fifth and par-3 16th. She birdied the par-4 ninth, par-4 15th and par-5 18th to finish at 218 on the 6,271-yard Raptor Course at the Grayhawk Golf Club.
Isabelle Lendl, of Goshen, Conn., trailed by two shots entering the final round but shot a 1-over 73 for a 215 total and a one-shot victory. Esther Choe, of Scottsdale, Ariz., shot a 4-over 76 to finish second.
Former Big Island resident Kimberly Kim shot a 4-over 76 to finish in a tie for fifth with 220. Moanalua freshman Tadd Fujikawa shot an even-par 72 for a 227 to finish tied for 30th in the boys' competition, whose course covered 7,113 yards.
Kim, 14, moved from the Big Island to Temecula, Calif., in February, to enroll at Linfield Christian High School. Her final round consisted of 14 pars and four bogeys.
Fujikawa, whose first two rounds were 77 and 78, had four birdies and four bogeys in his final round. He birdied the 14th and 15th holes to pull even.
Philip Francis, of Scottsdale, Ariz., won by two strokes with 65—206.
The tournament, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, annually attracts the top junior golfers in the world. The field consisted of 48 boys and 36 girls, ages 12 to 18, from 16 states, Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Finland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Slovenia, Sweden and Taiwan.
SURFING
IRONS THIRD IN FIJI
Three-time former world champion Andy Irons of Kaua'i tied for third place in the Globe WCT Fiji men's surfing contest.
The final day of the event was completed in 3- to 5-foot waves at Cloudbreak, Tavarua, Fiji.
Irons won his fourth-round and quarterfinal heats, then lost in the semifinals. Florida's Damien Hobgood beat Irons, 15.0-10.34.
Hobgood went on to win the contest by defeating Australia's Shaun Cansdell in the final.
Florida's Kelly Slater did not compete because of an injury to his ribs, but he is still ranked No. 1 in the World Championship Tour 2006 rankings.
Irons is No. 4 and the highest-ranked surfer from Hawai'i. Among the others, Bruce Irons is No. 10, Fred Patacchia Jr. No. 12, Pancho Sullivan No. 24, and Roy Powers No. 39.
The Fiji contest was the fourth of 12 stops on the 2006 tour. The next contest is scheduled to begin June 20 at Mexico.
SOCCER
VAIETE PREMIER WINS
Olav Fyrileiv and Adolfo Gentil scored goals as Vaiete Premier defeated Dawgs, 2-1, Sunday in the Men's Island Soccer Organization's Division I champion game at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
John Alcala scored for the Dawgs.
In the Division II championship game, Chad Saito, Ryan Kaneshiro and Whitney Shimatsu scored to lead Kamikaze to a 3-0 victory over Focus.
WRESTLING
TAKASAKI HONORED
Punahou School wrestler Kara Takasaki was named to the National High School Coaches Association All-Academic Team.
Takasaki is a two-time girls state wrestling champion at 140 pounds. She earned a 3.92 grade point average.
