Kono shoots par
after big win

EAGLE, Idaho » Stephanie Kono of Honolulu is going for a PGA-USGA championship combo at just 15 years old.

Kono, who won the Westfield Junior PGA Championship last week in Ohio, shot an even-par 71 yesterday in the first round of stroke-play qualifying for the U.S. Girls Junior Championship.

Hilo's Low opens Jr. Amateur with a 74 Jacob Low of Hilo shot 4-over 74 to tie for 85th after one round of the boys U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Longmeadow Country Club in Longmeadow, Mass. Low had three bogeys, a double-bogey and a birdie. Joe Monte led the 156-player field with a course-record 64. After today's second round of stroke play, the top 64 players will advance to match play. UH golfer qualifies for U.S. Amateur University of Hawaii golfer Cody Wolfenbarger of Boise shot a 136 yesterday to share medalist honors in a 36-hole U.S. Amateur qualifier at Warm Springs Golf Club in Boise. Wolfenbarger earned a spot in the Aug. 22-23 tournament at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. From staff and wire reports

The Punahou student probably just needs a round in the 70s today to secure a berth in match play, where the top 64 of the 156 girls assembled at BanBury Golf Club duel for the national championship.

She's trying not to think about last week's victory.

"It's hard, because after you win you kind of get a letdown," Kono said. "But you can't really think about it. I just have to pretend like nothing happened, and it's a brand-new tournament, so I have to play well."

Kono led the four-girl Hawaii contingent on the first day at BanBury, a 6,348-yard, par-71 layout with water on every hole.

Kimberly Kim of Hilo, who tied for sixth at Westfield, shot a 72. Mari Chun of Pearl City fired a 74 to remain in contention, and Kaitlen Miyajima of Wailuku struggled to an 81.

For Kono, this tournament will be an endurance test. She shot 3 under par over 72 holes in Ohio for her first national title, boarded an airplane for Idaho on Sunday and sneaked in a practice round Sunday afternoon. She didn't even have time to attend the tournament dinner that night.

She remained sharp, however, making three birdies and three bogeys in the first round.

"I played really well," Kono said.

The sophomore-to-be has played in the U.S. Girls Junior Championship three previous times, starting at the age of 12.

She has lost in a playoff for the last spot in match play, lost in the first round and lost in the second round.

"I want to make it to quarterfinals (this year) so I can be exempt for next year," she said, "so I don't have to qualify."

Kono is on the mainland for three weeks. She's off to Pennsylvania next week for an American Junior Golf Association tournament.

Kim has kept a similar schedule, allowing the two girls from different islands to spend some time together.

"That was really fun," Kono said of seeing Kim in Ohio.

Kim, who didn't play well at last year's Girls Junior, has a simple goal for today.

"Just shoot par and make the cut," she said.

Kim was 3 over through 14 holes, but she birdied Nos. 15 and 17 for a 72.

"If I hit the ball OK, then I should be all right," she said.

It looks like a two-girl race for medalist honors.

Taylore Karle of Scottsdale, Ariz., fired an 8-under-par 63 yesterday and Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla., the U.S. Women's Open runner-up, followed with a 66.

Four other players shot 67.

"They really felt like pars in a way," Karle said of her four straight birdies to begin the round. "I was just doing what I was supposed to do, hitting it where I wanted to hit it, making the putts I wanted to make."