KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM Kauai High alumna Rachel Kyono shot a 70 yesterday to surge to a win in the HSWGA Stroke Play Championships.

Kyono finshes
stronger for
stroke-play title

The Pepperdine sophomore
overtakes Stephanie Kono

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By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com

"Finish strong" was the motto that Bobbi Kokx used yesterday to leapfrog from a share of fourth to third place at the Hawaii State Women's Golf Association Stroke Play Championship at Mid-Pacific Country Club.

"Finish stronger" was what Rachel Kyono did en route to pulling away from the rest of the field and tying the 27-year-old record for the event. The 18-year-old incoming sophomore at Pepperdine saved her best for last, shooting a 2-under 70 to win the 54-hole tourney by four strokes.

Kyono, who began the day a stroke behind Stephanie Kono, had four birdies on the front nine and one on the back nine to finish at 217. The Kauai High product tied the mark set by Debra Spencer in 1975 in winning this event for the second time in three years.

Kono, who led the tournament the first two days, birdied three holes but bogeyed four of the last five to finish at 75--221. Kokx, picking up her trophy for winning the HSWGA Match Play Championship in June, came in at 73--222 and Merynn Ito, turning in the second-best round of the day, placed fourth at 72--223.

KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM Stephanie Kono, a 12-year-old Punahou student, led by one entering yesterday's final round before losing.

Kyono said she really wanted to win this event as a way to get tournament-ready for her college season, which starts next month with the NCAA Preview Tournament in Indiana. She also had another incentive, dedicating this event to her grandfather Sparky Kyono, who passed away last October.

"He would have been happy," Kyono said. "He was a big supporter, took me out to play all the time and came to watch when he could.

"I really wanted this in part for him."

Kyono said she didn't know where she stood in the standings but was just concentrating on her own game. A string of birdies on Nos. 2-4 allowed her to catch Kono and Kyono then went par-par-birdie for a two-stroke lead after seven holes.

At No. 9, Kyono two-putted for a bogey-5 while Kono drained a 25-foot downhill put to tie it at the turn. It turned completely Kyono's way at No. 14 when she parred and Kono two-putted, giving Kyono a one-stroke lead.

She picked up another stroke at 15 with a repeat of the previous hole, saving par with a 14-foot putt while Kono bogeyed. Her birdie-par-par finish gave Kyono the championship; she has not finished lower than third in this event in the past four years.

"I hit more greens today, my putts were going in," she said. "The winds were a bit gusty, so I'm very happy with the 70."

Kono knows she has work to do on her short game. Several of her putts on the back nine lipped out or broke just before the hole.

"I hit every green, but none of the putts would go in for me," said the 12-year-old, who will be starting seventh grade at Punahou School in a few weeks. "I could have played a lot better if I hadn't putted so badly. It wasn't easy for me today. But still, it's a good way to start the school year."

Bev Kim, the 1972 winner, finished in 14th at 78--241. Her final-round score was matched by the event's youngest entrant, 10-year-old Kimberly Kim, who tied for 13th at 78--238.

"I just love playing with the little ones," said Bev Kim. "Winning this when you shot 75-79 was easy. But the way they shoot now, you need to do better. If you're going to win this, you might as well win against the best."