Her putter continues to be hot for Stephanie Kono at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. A day after taking stroke-play medalist honors with a 6-under 138, the 19-year-old from Honolulu knocked in five birdies en route to a 4 and 3 victory over Emily Powers of Illinois yesterday at Devens, Mass.

Kono, who just completed her freshman year at UCLA, takes on future Bruin teammate Tiffany Lua of California in today's second round.

“;I didn't hit the ball that close (to the flagstick) today, but I made a lot of putts,”; said Kono, who took the lead on Hole No. 3 and closed out the match on No. 15.

Also advancing was former Hilo resident Kimberly Kim, the 2006 U.S. Women's Amateur champion.

Hawaii's three other entrants — Miki Ueoka of Lihue, Honolulu's Kristina Merkle and Pearl City's Marie Chun — were eliminated.