Saturday, May 19, 2001

[ YOUTH GOLF ]

KEN SAKAMOTO / STAR-BULLETIN
Michelle Wie, all of 11 years old, leads the Jennie K. Wilson
Invitational at the Mid-Pacific Country Club after one round.

11-year old’s game
anything but vanilla

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By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

Michelle Wie was more interested in a cold bowl of vanilla ice cream than in describing the feeling of what it was like to lead the prestigious Jennie K. Wilson Invitational women's golf tournament after one round. Not unusual for an 11-year-old.

If this phenom had any butterflies playing in a foursome that included 2001 prep state champion Rachel Kyono, she didn't show it after completing yesterday's opening 18 holes with a one-under 71 at the unusually calm Mid-Pacific Country Club.

She leads Ayumi Hori by one stroke. The 16-year-old sophomore from Moanalua High, who played in the same group with Kyono last weekend at the state tournament on Maui, was one shot back at 72.

"I had no idea I would come here and shoot that well," Hori said. "I finished like 13th at the state and Rachel wins. Today, I shoot a 72 and she has an 84. That's how it is in golf. You never know."

Rounding out the top five were Olomana's Mona Kim (77), University of Hawaii's Desiree Ting (78) and defending champion Bobbi Kokx (79). Last year's title was the second Jennie K. trophy for Kokx, who first won in 1984 while attending UH.

Wie said she was honored that officials decided to lift the age restriction of 16 and over. She qualified because she had a single-digit handicap of 2.

"It was exciting," Wie said, ice cream done. "It was pretty calm, not windy. I played pretty well."

That she did. Wie had birdies on Nos. 4, 8, and 16. She just missed a 27-footer for eagle on the 16th, settling for a tap-in birdie. Wie also had a pair of bogeys, but still managed the only round under par.

The second round began this morning at 6:30 with the leaders set to go off in the championship bracket a little after 8.

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Jennie K. Wilson

Yesterday's Results
At Mid-Pacific Country Club

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

Michelle Wie	36-35--71
Ayumi Hori	37-35--72
Bev Kim	39-38--77
Desiree Ting	41-37--78
Bobbi Kokx	39-40--79
Kuulei Kaae	40-40--80
Stephanie Kono	40-40--80
Mei Lin Poai	41-40--81
Caryn Morita	43-39--82
Yuko Abergas	37-45--82
Mona Kim	40-44--84
Traci K-Ayabe	44-40--84
Rachel Kyono	40-44--84
Jenna Seki	45-40--85
Sibylle Brinkman	43-43--86
Loreen Kunisaki	45-42--87
Liz Breza	42-45--87
Kelly Mau	41-46--87
Makiyo Senda	44-45--89

A FLIGHT

Kathy Tsukuda	39-37--76
Terri Lui	39-41--80
Ann Yoshimura	43-41--84
Kyoko Matsui	41-44--85
Susan Awaya	42-44--86

B FLIGHT

Chayne Orscher	42-42--84
Lily Yao	43-42--85
Chaok Merkle	43-43--86
Karen Nakagawa	43-46--89
Hisako Obara	43-47--90

C FLIGHT

Lynne Chow	44-43--87
Pauline Tallett	43-45--88
Yoshiko Koyama	44-45--89
Janice Ishihara	45-44--89
Iris Shimokawa	45-45--90

D FLIGHT

Bernice Hiroaka	45-44--89
Mimi Kim	44-47--91
Mona Roncali	48-44--92
Sue Hui Kim	44-48--92
Betty Nakasone	43-50--93

E FLIGHT

Jo Hahn	45-42--87
Susie Bellanca	44-47--91
Kazuko Nishimoto	49-46--95
Roberta Cullen	50-47--97
Diane Plotts	47-50--97