[ HIGH SCHOOL GOLF ]
Damien's Kurt Nino chipped onto the No. 2 green during his sudden-death playoff against Ryan Perez.
Kauai boys win first
state title since 1989
Kauai was one of the favorites entering the David S. Ishii Foundation Boys State Golf Tournament because it had local knowledge of the Wailua Golf Course.
But the Red Raiders didn't win until they forgot all about the comforts of home.
Cory French shot a final-round 73 to help Kauai erase a two-stroke deficit to win its first state title since 1989 and avenge a second-place finish last year with a score of 625. The Red Raiders only learned of their win just before Damien's Kurt Nino beat Moanalua's Ryan Perez on the second playoff hole for medalist honors.
"I think deep down inside they were thinking they were second last year and with all of us coming back and playing here they put added pressure on themselves," Kauai coach Winston Ogata said. "But that is what I work to guard against. I just want them to block all of that out and just play their game."
The Red Raiders stood in third place behind Mililani and King Kekaulike after a disappointing first round, but trimmed 13 strokes off the score yesterday to outscore the next-lowest team by 10 strokes. Chad Nonaka shot a 76 to slice two strokes off his first day, followed by Alan Baab's improvement of four strokes and Kellen Watabu bettering his performance by one. French was the surprise, though, improving from a 79 in the first round to a 73 in the second to finish seventh overall and lead the Red Raiders.
"I wouldn't say he's my ace, but he is my fighter," Ogata said. "Nonaka is my steady and Baab is probably my low scorer, but French is the boy who will keep playing no matter what."
King Kekaulike turned out to be Kauai's greatest challenge, shooting a 634, with Waiakea, which has won five of the last seven tournaments, finishing third at 636.
Nino became Damien's first state medalist in much the same way Kauai won the team title. Nino shot a 71 yesterday to zoom past seven other golfers and put himself in position to force a playoff on the 18th hole. Perez stood over a putt on the 18th with the opportunity to win, but he two-putted to wind up in a playoff after Nino sank his attempt. The two finished with 147 totals.
Nino and Perez matched each other shot for shot until they found themselves on the green on the second playoff hole. They were both within 10 feet of the hole when Perez two-putted his 10-foot lie and Nino dropped his 4-footer.
"I just played my game and never really thought about winning," Nino said. "Going into the second round I thought that if I could post a low score I might be able to win, but that was the only time it entered my mind."
Travis Toyama matched Nino's 71 yesterday to finish third at 149. Bronson Kalilikane of Mililani shook off a 43 on the front nine to take fourth at 151 ahead of a group of three in fifth at 152.
