Kono leads local
golfers in San Diego

Honolulu's Stephanie Kono finished in a tie for sixth during yesterday's final round of the 34th annual Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego with a 54-hole total of 182.

The Punahou School elementary student was 12 strokes off the pace set by girls 11-12 division winner Kumiko Kaneda of Japan. Kono shot a final-round 58 on the par 62 course. She was one of several boys and girls with local ties to fare well this week.

Hilo's Amanda Wilson tied for 11th in the girls 13-14 division with Waipahu's Kayla Morinaga. Both finished with 54-hole totals of 225. Christine Kim of Hilo placed 16th with a total of 226.

In the girls 9-10 division, Haaheo Manini-Hewlen of Honolulu placed fifth at 179. Hilo's Kimberly Kim tied for 10th with a 54-hole total of 185. Honolulu's Kaira Martin placed 15th at 197. Hee Sue Condry placed sixth in the girls 8 division at 186.

In the boys 13-14 division, Kurt Nino of Honolulu finished in a tie for 30th at 226 some 12 strokes off the pace. Three local golfers finished near the top in the boys 11-12 division.

David Kim of Keaau tied for 13th at 190 with Jordan Cox of Lihue at 190. David Hahn of Honolulu finished in 16th two strokes back at 192. Colton Knedler tied for 27th in the boys 9-10 division with a three-day total of 185 and Ryan Kuroiwa of Aiea placed eighth in the boys 8 division at 174.

Kahuku, St. Louis to start season ranked in football

Defending state champion Kahuku High is ranked No. 31 and runner-up St. Louis is No. 36 in the Student Sports Inc.'s preseason national high school rankings released yesterday.

The Red Raiders were 13-2 last season. Quarterback Inoke Funaki, who sparked Kahuku's 26-20 victory over the Crusaders in the 2000 state final, returns for his senior season.

The Crusaders had their 14-year streak as Prep Bowl or state champions ended last season by the Red Raiders.

Coach Cal Lee returns for his final season at St. Louis.

De La Salle of Concord, Calif. -- winners of 113 staright games -- is ranked No. 1.

Hawaii's Own

Benny Agbayani, Mets: With trade rumors flying around the Big Apple, the St. Louis School and Hawaii Pacific alumnus put together a 3-for-4 day in an 8-3 loss to the Marlins. New York has made no secret about the fact that it believes it is only a run-producing outfielder away from contention.

But in the last five games, Agbayani has become the type of producer they covet. He has gone 7-for-16 and raised his batting average from .262 to .275 over the span.

Batting fifth and playing left, Agbayani contributed by leading off the fourth inning with a double to deep right off Ryan Dempster and stinging him again in the next inning with a single to center to score Edgardo Alfonzo from third. Agbayani greeted reliever Vic Darensbourg leading off the seventh with a single to right field.

Mike Fetters, Dodgers: The Iolani school product did not pitch in his team's 8-6 win over the Brewers. It was his fourth day off in a row after pitching on consecutive days last week.