Moanalua graduate John Oda lost three of the first five holes, but rallied to win his opening round match at the 120th British Amateur Championship in Scotland on Wednesday.
Oda defeated Argentina’s Jaime Lopez Rivarola 1-up on the 19th hole at blustery Carnoustie Golf Links. It was Oda’s first lead of the day.
Three Oda birdies in six holes and Rivarola’s bogey at the 15th squared the match for the first time. Both golfers played the final three holes of regulation par-bogey-par.
Oda’s par on the first extra hole put him into Thursday’s second round against Paul Barjon of France.
Oda, a UNLV sophomore, tied for 20th in qualifying with rounds of 70-71. He finished six back of the medalist as the field of 288 from all over the world was pared to 64.
Galdiana takes third
Incoming Punahou senior Mariel Galdiano, the first to win three consecutive state high school championships, took third place at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship.
It was played last week at The Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst.
Galdiano led after opening with rounds of 68-71. A third-round 75 knocked her out of first. She closed with a 72 and her total of 2-under-par 286 was five back of champion Hannah O’Sullivan, from Chandler, Ariz.
Galdiano, who has verbally committed to UCLA, was fifth in her first Rolex Championship last year.
Punahou classmate Allisen Corpuz (77—297) tied for 14th in the invitational event. Corpuz is headed to USC in 2016.
Junior champs
Ashley Koga and Joshua Chung ran away with the younger age divisions and Kelly Chinn and Kyung Lee held on to capture the older ones in last weekend’s HSJGA King Auto Group State Junior Championship (12-under).
Chung closed with a 69 Sunday at the Hawaii Prince B and C nines to win the Boys 7-10 division by 21 shots, with a 136 total. Koga took the girls title by 17 with rounds of 73-77. Both are in the graduating class of 2023.
Chin closed with a 73 to win the Boys 11-12 division by one over Jake Sequin (70—142). He was three ahead of Jacob Torres.
Lee (73—146) was a shot better than Reina Izumi and finished two ahead of Alison Takamiya.
