Japan took a lead into Tuesday’s final round of the ninth annual Asia Pacific Junior Cup and clinched its seventh victory by winning seven of the 16 singles matches.
The final score was 17.5-14.5, at Waikoloa Kings’ Course.
The tournament brings together 16 elite juniors from Hawaii and Japan in a Ryder Cup-style format. Next year’s Cup will be played in Japan for the first time.
Kengo Aoshima, Justin Arcano, Matthew Shen, Justin Williamson, Malia Nam and Kyosuke Hara won singles matches for Hawaii. Justin Ngan, Jun Ho Won and Kyle Suppa halved their matches.
Former Hawaii State Junior Golf Association members Spencer Dunaway (Brigham Young) and Naea Oda (Cal Poly) were awarded scholarships by Cup sponsor Hilton Grand Vacations.
Enrollment for the next Asia Pacific Junior Cup Fund scholarships opens Dec. 1 through Hawaii Community Foundation. Applicants must be Hawaii residents and graduating seniors who are active members of the HSJGA or their high school golf team, demonstrate financial need and plan to enroll fulltime at an accredited college or university.
For more information, contact Lauren Yama at 532-0559 or hajgaoffice@gmail.com.
Okyino, Koga move up at LPGA of Japan
Hawaii’s Cyd Okino and Eimi Koga advanced from the LPGA of Japan’s second-stage qualifying last week.
Okino, a University of Washington graduate, is a two-time Hawaii State Open champ. Koga won the 2011 Hawaii state high school championship as a Moanalua sophomore and was Okino’s teammate at UW for two years before transferring to Hawaii this fall.
The second stage was held at four sites. Okino finished eighth at Karasuyamajo Country Club, in Tochigi Prefecture. She shot rounds of 76-76-70 and was eight shots behind the medalist, who fired even-par 72 all three days.
Koga, who was born in Nagasaki, opened with an 80 at Shunan Country Club, in Yamaguchi Prefecture. She rallied with a 74, then went out in 33 the final day and shot 71 to place 36th.
The top 44 at both sites moved on.
The third stage will be Nov. 24-26, with the final stage Dec. 1-4.
Koga was medalist in her first UH start this year, helping the Wahine win the Hobble Creek Fall Classic — their first tournament victory in 19 years. With her away last week, UH was last at the Pac-12 Preview on the island of Hawaii. Junior Izzy Leung (77–227) had UH’s best showing, tying for 24th in windy conditions at Nanea Golf Club,
The nine Pac-12 teams that finished ahead of Hawaii are all ranked in the Top 50, with the exception of Washington State and Oregon State. Third-ranked UCLA won with a team score of 8-under-par 877. UH shot 945.
Hawaii’s Brittany Fan, a sophomore at Colorado, tied for 17th.
McLachlin 15th at Web.com qualifier
Hawaii’s Parker McLachlin shares 15th halfway through the Web.com Tour’s Second Qualifying Stage event in Kingwood, Texas.
McLachlin opened with a 71 Tuesday and shot 70 Wednesday. The leader is Anthony Broussard, at 12-under-par 132.
The top 21 and ties, in a field of 78, advance to the Final Stage next month. All players who make it to finals earn at least conditional status on the tour in 2016.
