Christian Akau, the 2004 Army Invitational champion, captured medalist honors in the Manoa Cup qualifying round yesterday, firing a 2-under-par 69 at Oahu Country Club.

Akau led a group of 63 qualifiers and is seeded second in today's opening round. Defending champion Alex Ching is the No. 1 seed and plays Ron Yogi at 7 a.m., starting on the first tee. Akau takes on Jefferson Yee at 7 a.m., from the 10th.

David Saka was a shot back of Akau, while Jared Sawada, Alika Bell, 2004 champion Ryan Perez and Lorens Chan shot even-par 71. Chan, 15, won the state high school and State Stroke Play titles this year and was a Manoa Cup semifinalist two years ago.

In one of the most compelling matchups today, Perez plays 2003 champ Kellen-Floyd Asao at 8:24 a.m.

Four-time champion Brandan Kop and 2007 champion Kurt Nino both shot 73 to finish in the top 20.

The 101st state amateur match play championship drew 96 entrants. Play begins at 7 a.m. daily, with one round today, tomorrow and Thursday, quarterfinals and semifinals Friday and the 36-hole final Saturday.mAnoa cup

TODAY'S FIRST ROUND

AT OAHU COUNTRY CLUB

Matches with qualifying score in parentheses.

FIRST TEE

7 a.m.— No. 1 Alex Ching vs. No. 64 Ron Yogi (79).

7:07 a.m.—32 Seung Jae Maeng (75) vs. 33 Craig Watanabe (75).

7:14 a.m.—16 Bou-An Fujieki (73) vs. 49 Kevin McBride (77).

7:21 a.m.—17 Kurt Nino (73) vs. 48 Robert A Kim (77).

7:28 a.m.—8 Chris Byrer (72) vs. 57 Raymond Tendo (78).

7:35 a.m.—25 Marc Rosen (74) vs. 40 Alan Wong (76).

7:42 a.m.—9 Scotty Hayashi (72) vs. 56 Blaine Kimura (78).

7:49 a.m.—24 David Yamasaki (74) vs. 41 Scott Ichimura (76).

7:56 a.m.—4 Jared Sawada (71) vs. 61 Rodney Doo (79).

8:03 a.m.—29 Robert Szymaszek (74) vs. 36 Samuel Pratt (76).

8:10 a.m.—13 Doug Williams (72) vs. 52 Bruce Wong (77).

8:17 a.m.—20 Nicholas Kim (74) vs. 45 Harlan Karnofsky (77).

8:24 a.m.—5 Alika Bell (71) vs. 60 Chris Caycayon (79).

8:31 a.m.—28 Skye Inakoshi (74) vs. 37 Michael Park (76).

8:38 a.m.—12 Henry Park (72) vs. 53 Bobby Matsui (78).

8:45 a.m.—21 Levi Miyashiro (74) vs. 44 Layne Morita (77).

TENTH TEE

7 a.m.—No. 2 Christian Akau (69) vs. No. 63 Jefferson Yee (79).

7:07 a.m.—31 Brandon Isobe (75) vs. 34 Christopher Armanini (75).

7:14 a.m.—15 Brandan Kop (73) vs. 50 Rudy Cabalar (77).

7:21 a.m.—18 Thomas Yamashita (73) vs. 47 Paul Kimura (77).

7:28 a.m.—7 Lorens Chan (71) vs. 58 Edward MacNaughton (78).

7:35 a.m.—26 Justin Keiley (74) vs. 39 Bradley Yosaitis (76).

7:42 a.m.—10 TJ Kua (72) vs. 55 Mitchell Kwee (78).

7:49 a.m.—23 Logan Goulding (74) vs. 42 Max Bonk (76).

7:56 a.m.—3 David Saka (70) vs. 62 Shakil Ahmed (79).

8:03 a.m.—30 Brian Lee (74) vs. 35 Haku Maluenda (76).

8:10 a.m.—14 David Hamada (72) vs. 51 Glen Niitani (77).

8:17 a.m.—19 Kalena Preus (73) vs. 46 Kenny Tenn (77).

8:24 a.m.—6 Ryan Perez (71) vs. 59 Kellen-Floyd Asao (79).

8:31 a.m.—27 Reo Saito (74) vs. 38 Donny Hopoi (76).

8:38 a.m.—11 Bill Henry (72) vs. 54 Samuel Rodriguez III (78).

8:45 a.m.—22 Chris De Almeida (74) vs. 43 Ryan Lloyd (76).