Punahou graduate Stephanie Kono qualified for the U.S. Women's Open Tuesday, shooting 72-70—142 at the Industry Hills Golf Club in City of Industry, Calif.

The UCLA All-American was fourth at the sectional, with Italy's Giulia Sergas earning medalist honors at 70-68—138. Eleven players advanced from that qualifier.

Monday, former Hilo resident Kimberly Kim was the medalist at the Colorado Springs sectional. Kim shot 71-72—143 at the Broadmoor Golf Club, finishing ahead of pros Jill McGill (147) and Mhairi McKay (150).

Kim finished 66th in her first U.S. Women's Open, as a 14-year-old in 2006. She has missed the cut in the last three. Kono has only played once before, missing the cut in 2006.

MāNOA CUP

QUALIFYING JUNE 14

Nearly live scoring, a push to bring the public to watch at Oahu Country Club and a stellar field will be part of the 102nd annual Mānoa Cup, which begins with qualifying June 14 in Nu'uanu.

Kaua'i's TJ Kua, who just finished his sophomore season at University of Hawai'i, will defend his title in the state match play championship. Kua held off Chaminade's Layne Morita, 1-up, in last year's final. Morita, who now works at OCC, won the 40th annual Hawai'i United Okinawan Invitational Sunday at Pali Golf Course.

Former champions Brandan Kop (1983, '86, '97, '98), Jonathan Ota and Dick Sieradzki (1990) are playing again, along with state high school champs Rudy Cabalar Jr., Lorens Chan and Sean Maekawa. The field also includes David Fink, Alika Bell, Bradley Shigezawa, Kellen Watabu, Donny Hopoi and Todd Rego.

Alina Ching, younger sister of 2008 Mānoa Cup champion Alex Ching, is the only female in the field so far.

OCC is encouraging the public to watch. Admission is free, and food and beverage will be available for purchase. Results will be posted at hawaiistategolf.org, with updates during the first two rounds and hole-by-hole reports as they happen beginning with the Sweet 16.

Matches start at 6:30 a.m. for the June 15 qualifying. Kua is automatically seeded first.

Golfers go out from 7 a.m. for the first-, second- and third-round matches. Quarterfinals begin at 7 a.m. June 18, with semifinals scheduled for noon. The 36-hole final starts at 7 a.m. June 19.

BRITISH AMATEUR

CHING WILL PARTICIPATE

Alex Ching, who won the 100th annual Mānoa Cup, will be thousands of miles away this year, playing the 115th British Amateur Championship at Muirfield Golf Club in Scotland.

Ching and a few of his University of San Diego teammates are entered in the 288-player field. The tournament is played on the same dates as Mānoa Cup.

"It's kind of a team thing and it will be fun, a good tournament to play in," Ching said. "Muirfield has hosted the British Open. But I heard the weather is terrible."

The first and second rounds are at Muirfield and North Berwick. The top 64 advance to match play at Muirfield. Like Mānoa Cup, all golfers must walk.

In July, Ching plans to play the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Men's Amateur in British Columbia and Pacific Coast Amateur in Oregon.

CALLAWAY JUNIOR

160 TO PLAY IN QUALIFIER

This year's Callaway Junior World Hawai'i qualifier will be Wednesday and Thursday at Waikoloa's Kings' Course. There are 160 golfers in the field, competing in five age divisions.

The oldest age group (15-17) will qualify six boys and six girls. Five of each will advance from the 9-10 and 13-14 divisions. Four boys and three girls from 11-12 division will qualify and four boys and two girls from the 7-8 division.

The Callaway Junior World Championships will be July 10 to 16 in San Diego.

Golfers competing include Millburn Ho, Marissa Chow, Alina Ching, Ciera Min, Cassie Isagawa, Kelli Oride and Donny Hopoi.

For information, contact the Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association at 532-0559.

NOTES

There will be a Golf Club Swap Meet Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Makelei Golf Club. Call 325-6625 on the Big Island for more information.