Coming home for the summer didn't exactly herald vacation season for Nicole Sakamoto and Kristina Merkle.

Both landed in the islands on Tuesday following appearances in the NCAA women's golf regionals and got right to work preparing for the Jennie K. Wilson Invitational.

Sakamoto practiced Wednesday and Thursday after finishing her sophomore season at James Madison last week. Merkle, a Tulsa freshman and defending Jennie K. champion, didn't even wait that long to get started.

“;My swing's been really out of whack lately. So Tuesday right after I got off the plane my dad was like, 'Let's go hit balls,' “; Merkle said. “;I've just been practicing since I've been back.”;

Sakamoto returned from Greenville, N.C., where she played in the NCAA East Regional, and opened the 60th Jennie K. with a 3-under-par 69 yesterday at Mid Pacific Country Club.

As pleased as she was with her score and the first-round lead, Sakamoto found being back in Lanikai's warmth even more comforting.

“;I'm so happy. I loved coming home, so I was excited to play this tournament,”; the Kalani graduate said. “;It was cold; it was in the 60s when I left.”;

Sakamoto, who finished third in the tournament in 2008, birdied the 10th, 12th and 16th holes to shoot a 33 on the back nine yesterday and takes a three-stroke lead over 12-year-old Allisen Corpuz into today's second round.

Corpuz, last year's runner-up, had birdies on No. 1 and No. 8 and went through the back side with one bogey and eight pars.

“;I had one three-putt, but it was OK,”; said Corpuz, a soft-spoken Punahou sixth-grader. “;Some of the long putts the speed was kinda off.”;

Satoko Sawada, Mariel Galdiano and Hayley Young finished another stroke back at 73. Merkle got off to a strong start in her pursuit of a fourth Jennie K. crown before settling for a 74.

“;I'm kind of disappointed,”; the Moanalua graduate said. “;Being 3 under (through 10) and shooting 2 over is probably not the best thing in the world, but it's just something I have to work on right now. ... There's still two more days.”;

Merkle was Tulsa's top performer this season and was named Conference USA's freshman of the year before ending the season at the NCAA Central Regional in Columbus, Ind.

“;It was definitely a change for me, especially the weather. I've never played golf in the snow,”; Merkle said of her year in Oklahoma. “;I had a pretty decent season. There's a lot of talent on the college circuit and I played against a lot of great players. I'm just learning right now and it's been a really good experience.”;

Sakamoto was named James Madison's most valuable player and an All-Colonial Athletic Association first-team selection with a stroke average of 75.

“;I'm happy with my game right now, so coming from regionals I was still in it. And coming here, it helps at least playing a tournament,”; Sakamoto said.

While the college golfers entered in the 22-player championship flight can savor the start of summer, some of the high schoolers in the tournament are still balancing school and golf.

Punahou teammates Cyd Okino and Alina Ching both shot 76 yesterday. Okino, who has verbally committed to Washington, got off to a rough start but shot 35 on the back to give herself some momentum going into today's round.

“;The front nine was a little shaky, so by the back nine I was just thinking I have nothing to lose and just do the best I can and it worked out pretty nicely,”; Okino said.