Watabu leads Kauai
to boys championship

Kellen Watabu fired a 3-under-par 69 and captured medalist honors to lead Kauai to the David S. Ishii Foundation Boys Golf State Championship yesterday at the Wailea Emerald Course on Maui.

It was the second straight state title for the Red Raiders, who won last year at Wailua Golf Course on Kauai.

Kauai has won four state championships since the tournament began in 1966.

Watabu finished the 36-hole tournament at 1-over-par 145.

Watabu's brother, Casey, is a former Red Raiders standout now playing for the University of Nevada.

The Red Raiders' Cory French, the first-round leader, shot a 74 yesterday and finished tied for second with King Kekaulike's Bryan Bangerter and Kamehameha's Thomas Kua at 148.

Bret Netzer (156) and Chad Nonaka (157) also contributed to Kauai's team score of 30-over 606, which was eight strokes better than runner-up King Kekaulike's 614.

Punahou finished in third at 621, followed by Kamehameha at 627 and Iolani at 630.

Kauai also won state championships in 1979 and 1989.

Watabu is the fourth Red Raider to take the individual championship.

Ishii, a touring pro whose foundation is the title sponsor of the event, won it in 1973. Jonathan Ota, a top Hawaii amateur, claimed the championship in 1979, and Jaime Matsumura, a former University of Hawaii golfer, was the 1999 champion.