Chan rallies to win junior event in Nebraska
Hawaii’s junior golfers added another trophy to their case yesterday when ‘Iolani junior Lorens Chan shot a final-round 71 to win the AJGA Nebraska Junior at Quarry Oaks in Ashland.
Chan, who won the state high school championship as a freshman, began the final day three shots out of first. The 16-year-old finished at 4-under-par 209 to win by two shots over Steven Ihm and three over Ian Vandersee. Both are from Iowa and recently graduated. They were the only three players to finish under par.
"I managed to keep it in play, and I had a shot to the greens. On this course, if you don’t keep it in play and hit in the wrong spot you are pretty much done," Chan said. "This course will eat you alive, so I just kept it in play and just kept trying to make par, and if birdie comes that’s great."
The tournament field had 77 boys and girls, ages 12 to 18, from 18 states and Canada.
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KOMOTO EARNS A BERTH
Love Lynn Guioguio, from the Philippines, and 15-year-old Kacie Komoto earned the Hawaii spots in yesterday’s U.S. Women’s Amateur Sectional Qualifier, at Waikoloa Kings’ Course.
Guioguio was medalist, firing a 4-under-par 68 to beat Komoto by a shot. Komoto, a Punahou sophomore, is the reigning Hawaii State Women’s Stroke Play champion.
They won out over 17 others from Hawaii and the Philippines.
Girls state high school champion Cassy Isagawa, a Baldwin senior, parred the first playoff hole to win the first alternate spot over 12-year-old Allisen Corpuz. Both shot 72.
Top players from each of the 20 qualifiers advance to the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, Aug. 9-15 at Charlotte Country Club in Charlotte, N.C. It is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association.
ISLE GOLFERS NOT SELECTED
There are no Hawaii junior golfers on the 40-player roster announced yesterday for the 21st annual Canon Cup. The tournament matches girls and boys teams from the West and East in team competition. The West has won the last five years.
Kyung Kim, who grew up on Maui and now lives in Arizona, is playing for the West.
