ISLE FILE
Kono reaches publinx quarterfinals
Advertiser Staff
Stephanie Kono hopes 13 proves to be her lucky number this week.
After a few near-misses in her previous 12 USGA championship appearances, the recent Punahou School graduate advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links tournament yesterday with a pair of victories at Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin, Wis.
Kono defeated Ani Gulugian of Irvine, Calif., 4 and 2, in the round of 32 and followed that with a 5-and-4 victory over Alexandra Stewart, of Peoria, Ariz., in the round of 16.
"It's a little early," said Kono, trying not to look too far ahead. "I'm just going to keep playing the way I am and hopefully that will take me far."
Kono will face Michelle Shin, of Cape Coral, Fla., in today's quarterfinal match. Shin beat Angela Oh, of Maple Shade, N.J., on the 19th hole in the round of 16.
"Michelle is awesome," said Kono, who will play at UCLA in the fall. "That would be really fun to play her."
Yesterday, Kono won three consecutive holes — Nos. 12, 13 and 14 — to go 3-up on Gulugian, who had birdied the first two holes to take an early lead. Kono closed out the match with a birdie on the par-3 16th.
In the round of 16, Kono and Stewart both bogeyed the first hole. Kono then parred the 314-yard second hole to take a lead she would not relinquish. She closed out the match on the par-5 505-yard 14th with a par as Stewart suffered her fifth bogey.
Kono is the only Hawai'i golfer remaining in the tournament.
"I just have to keep hitting the fairways, and keep hitting the greens and make a few putts," she said. "That's all it is really. I'm just waiting for putts to fall."
Information from www.uswapl.org was used in this report.
MORE GOLF
HAYASHI SHARES 24TH
Mauna Kea pro Kevin Hayashi is tied for 24th after shooting a 1-under-par 71 in yesterday's opening round of the 41st PGA Professional Championship, being played in Lake Oconee, Ga. Hayashi is five behind leader Paul Dietsche.
Hayashi birdied the second hole, but bogeyed Nos. 4, 5 and 6. He got back to even par with birdies at Nos. 8 and 9, bogeyed the 10th, then birdied two more before parring his final six holes.
Makena pro Kirk Nelson shot 75 and is tied for 143rd. Princeville's Ron Castillo shares 257th at 79. There are 311 players in the field. The tournament is played on two courses.
The low 20 earn berths into the 90th PGA Championship in August, at Oakland Hills Country Club. In addition to the Walter Hagen Cup, the winner also receives an exemption into the next five PGA Professional National Championships, a spot on the 2009 PGA Cup Team and exemptions into six PGA Tour events over a 12-month period.
BOXING
TWO EARN TITLE SHOTS
Sau Chazzette, of Kihei, Maui, and Honolulu's Faleauto Manutulila advanced to today's championship matches at the Junior Olympic National Championships in Marquette, Mich.
In yesterday's semifinals, Chazzette won a decision over Michelle Rodriguez of Texas, 11-6, in the women's bantamweight division (119 pounds). Chazzette faces Serina Aguilar in the final.
Manutulila stopped Wisconsin's Jonny Vargas 57 seconds into their 176-pound bout. Manutulila faces Otis Brown in the final.
Wai'anae's Helena de la Cruz lost a 3-1 decision to Tanayris Negron of Florida in the women's 125-pound semifinals.
The four-day event features more than 200 of the nation's top male and female boxers.
CLINIC
WEEKEND SPEED TIME
Hawai'i Speed and Quickness offers clinics tomorrow and Sunday at Klum Gym.
Former and current University of Hawai'i student-athletes serve as instructors.
Each session is $10.
Sessions are 8:30 a.m to 10 a.m.
For details, call 739-5444 or go to www.hawaiispeedandquickness.com.
TENNIS
CLEANING UP CORP
The USTA/Hawai'i Pacific Section's Community Clean-Up Day at Central O'ahu Regional Park's Tennis Complex will be held Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It is part of the USTA's Adopt-a-Park program.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Volunteers can bring gloves, rakes and weeding tools. For more information, call 955-6696 ext. 26 or e-mail dreith@hawaii.usta.com.
