HIGH SCHOOL GOLF
Punahou boys capture sixth state golf title
Senior Alex Ching carded a final-round 74 for a 145 total to take medalist honors and lead Punahou to the David S. Ishii Foundation/HHSAA state boys golf championship yesterday at Wailua Golf Course on Kauai.
Punahou shot a 295 yesterday for a 589 total to run away to its sixth state boys golf title, the first since 1997. Runner-up Baldwin was 33 strokes back (310--622) followed by Iolani (325--634) and Kamehameha (324--635).
This was the seventh state title this spring out of a possible eight for Punahou; the Buffanblu finished second to Pearl City in girls judo Saturday.
Yesterday, the top four Punahou golfers placed in the top 11, including Ching at No. 1, and senior John David Nako and sophomore Bradley Shigezawa sharing second with Baldwin sophomore Justin Keiley at 148. Buffanblu junior Colton Knedler tied Iolani junior David Fink for 11th at 152.
Ching, the first-round co-leader with Keiley, is Punahou's first medalist since Jim Seki in 1998.