Former Big Island resident Kimberly Kim had four birdies on the back nine to win the U.S. Women's Open sectional qualifier in Santa Cruz, Calif., yesterday.

Kim was the only player with Hawai'i ties to advance in the sectionals that reported results, with Michelle Wie, Kristina Merkle, Stephanie Kono, Mari Chun and Ayaka Kaneko just missing out.

Merkle, the two-time state high school champion who just graduated from Moanalua, came up a shot short at Wailua on Kaua'i. Rounds of 75-71 left her one back of Japan pro Miki Saiki (75-70).

Punahou sophomore Cyd Okino, who won the Hawai'i sectional last year, shot 75-78. Three-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation champ Britney Yada, who just graduated from Waiakea, shot 83-84. Yada got into the sectional when 'Iolani freshman Marissa Chow withdrew.

This will be Kim's third straight U.S. Women's Open, and she doesn't turn 18 until August. She was the 2006 U.S. Women's Amateur champion, becoming the youngest to capture the championship at 14 years, 11 months.

Kim, who now lives in Arizona, won the sectional at Pasatiempo with a 2-under-par 70 in the afternoon. She was the only golfer to break par at 143.

Eleven golfers qualified at Pasatiempo, at 150 or better. Kono, a Punahou graduate who just finished her freshman year at UCLA, was a shot back. She tied for 13th with rounds of 73-78, taking a 10 on the par-5 10th hole in the afternoon round.

Kaneko, a Sacred Hearts graduate, shot 77-75—152. Chun, a Kamehameha Schools alum who recently graduated from Stanford and is turning pro, shot 76-77—153.

Wie was among 111 players — many from last week's LPGA Championship — seeking one of 30 spots at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. She fired 71-74—145, a shot off the qualifying score.

This will be the first Open Wie has missed since her first appearance in 2003, at age 13. She tied for 39th that year, 13th the following year and 23rd in 2005. She was third in 2006, but withdrew with an injury the following year and missed the cut last year after qualifying.

A win or spot in the top 10 on the LPGA money list as of June 1 would have put her in the Open. Wie is currently 18th on the money list in her rookie year, with more than $326,000.

The 64th U.S. Women's Open is July 9 to 12 at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa. The USGA accepted a record 1,278 entries for this year's tournament, from 46 states and 43 countries.