[ HIGH SCHOOL GOLF ]
Aiea's Shari Horio smiled after making a hole in one yesterday on the 17th hole at Wailua Golf Course in the state tournament.
Kauai, Choy win
girls golf
Leilehua sophomore Britney Choy gave Hawaii's prep golfers someone to watch yesterday.
Choy made her first-round lead hold up to win the David Ishii Foundation Girls State Golf Championship yesterday, shooting a 36 on the front nine at the Wailua Golf Course on Kauai and finishing with a 74. Kauai won the team title by five strokes over Waiakea.
"It's a really big win, one of my goals since before I was in high school," Choy said. "Winning the state gets you a lot of recognition and there are a lot of really good players out here."
Choy, who scored a 3-over-par 147 over the two rounds, carded three birdies and three bogeys on the front nine to beat Jennie Pleas of Kauai by two strokes and Waiakea's Amanda Wilson by four.
Pleas thought she might have a shot at winning medalist honors right up until the scores were posted.
"Actually, I wasn't watching Britney, I was watching Amanda," Pleas said. "I knew Britney did well, but not that well. She is a really good golfer, but the team means a lot more to me anyway."
Kauai won its first state title since 2001, when Rachel Kyono led the Red Raiders with an individual title. Kauai did it this time by being the only team to have three golfers shoot under 80 on the last day. Miki Ueoka shot a 78 to place seventh overall, which was matched by Kiilani Matsuyoshi (12th). Kimberly Yata and Mary Akutagawa shot 80s for Kauai, but only the top three scores were counted.
Wilson led Waiakea to second place, while Punahou took third.
Kauai came into the final round with a 5-shot lead and let the opposition know early that catching the Red Raiders would not be easy. Pleas began the second round by hitting into the trees twice, but saved it for a par with a 3-wood 210 yards into the middle of the fairway followed by a sand wedge from 75 yards out. Her putt from 3 feet out set her up for a 75 the rest of the way.
"I think that was the most important hole I had," Pleas said. "It really gave me a boost of confidence and helped my putting the rest of the day."
