[ HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ]
Oahu golf teams
aim to break through
Golf may be a game for the mentally strong, but Punahou coach John Proud hopes his players won't be thinking too much when they tee off at the 2003 David S. Ishii Foundation Girls State Championships on the Big Island tomorrow.
"The key is not to try and do something special," Proud said. "If the girls play their own game, if they can play within themselves and shoot what they've been averaging, they're going to do very well. We're looking forward to good competition."
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Lindsay Hong: Punahou golfer won ILH individual title this season
For the team championship, four players participate from a school, with the best three scores used each day.
Punahou, Kamehameha and Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Moanalua rate among Oahu's best chances to break through and win the state tournament, which will take place tomorrow and Saturday at the Waikoloa Beach Course. Since the girls were first awarded a separate team championship in 1999, no Oahu school has won the team title, with Hilo (1999), Waiakea (2000, 2002) and Kauai (2001) bringing home the hardware.
"We'd like to say it's because it's easier to get a tee time there (on the other islands)," said Proud.
Hilo coach Jan Watanabe attributes the success of the neighbor island schools to other factors.
"With their (Oahu's) population, the talent is spread out," said Watanabe, whose team won the Big Island Interscholastic Federation this spring. "And our Junior Golf Program here is unbelievable. I can't give it enough credit."
While neighbor island schools have dominated the team championships, Punahou has produced more individual championships than any other program, thanks to Anna Umemura, who won titles in 1994, '95 and '97. The Buffanblu's best bet this year may be Lindsay Hong, who finished sixth in 2002. She recently edged Iolani's Stacie Nishimoto for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu title.
Hong, who was the ILH's runner-up two years in a row, trailed by two strokes before shooting par in the final round at Makaha Resort's West Course.
"She had a sensational round, considering what was at stake," Proud said. "She is incredibly strong mentally. Our other girls are approaching that, but she's stronger."
Punahou also boasts Stanford-bound senior Jenna Seki, whose brother Jim competes for the Cardinal men's team, as well as Kimberley Tom and freshman Erin Matsuoka.
For Moanalua, the season has already been "a pleasant surprise," according to coach Myron Wong.
The Menehunes won the OIA title by 16 strokes over second-place Roosevelt, even though Ayumi Hori, the league's individual champion, is the lone senior on the team.
"We knew the girls were good, but you never know how you'll stack up," says Wong who is the Menehunes' co-coach, along with Josh Suapai'a. "If the girls show up, then we have an outside chance. There are a lot of good teams, and Punahou is one of them. I wouldn't discount Kamehameha, either."
In addition to Hori, Moanalua will count on junior Breena Kadekaru and freshmen Iris Ocariza and Jaclyn Hilea.
Hilo is led by junior Kira-Ann Murashige, the BIIF's individual champion, as well as Kristen Higa and sophomores Whitney Ueno and Kristen Atebara.
"It's going to take mental preparation and a lot of focus," said Watanabe. "If we keep focusing on doing our best -- that's all you can ask -- then I like our chances. We're looking forward, hopefully, to nice weather and a happy ending."
As always, Hilo will face stiff competition from rival Waiakea, which features a pair of seniors in Jenna Fujimoto and Kellie Kawahara, sophomore Amanda Wilson and freshman Christine Kim. Freshmen Nicole Aoki and Jasmine Ching will also compete.
Wilson was the individual runner-up last year, finishing one stroke behind former teammate Leah Whiting, who is now at Oregon State.
Kauai's Lehua Wise, who took third in the individual final last year, recently won the Kauai Interscholastic Federation and figures to vie for the top spot individually, along with Maui Interscholastic League champion Lisa Kajihara of King Kekaulike.
Kamehameha, which placed second in the ILH to Punahou, is led by Wendee Augustiro and Mari Chun. Nancy Shon and Xyra Suyetsugu lead OIA runner-up Roosevelt.
Others to watch at the tournament include St. Andrews' Rak-Kyung Oh, Pearl City's Randi Ono, Aiea's Megan Sakamoto, McKinley's Tiffany Takao, and Kayla Morinaga and Miya Argent of Sacred Hearts.
