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Hawaii finished Tuesday what it started Sunday, winning nine points in singles to bring the Asia-Pacific Cup back to Hawaii for only the second time.
The local team of Hawaii State Junior Golf Association members defeated a team made up of 16 of Japan’s best juniors, 18-14. The seventh annual goodwill event was played at Waikoloa Kings’ Course over the past three days. The result cuts Japan’s lead to 5-2.
Baldwin High senior Ariel Hanson-Elfman went out first for Hawaii and paved the way. His match was even at the turn. Hanson aced the 11th hole and chipped in on the 12th to take a 2-up lead. That’s where the match finished on the 17th.
John Oda, a Moanalua senior headed to UNLV, clinched the Cup when he won 3 and 2 in the next-to-last match. Oda was one of three high school seniors on a team that also featured eighth-grader Remington Hirano and ninth-grader Justin Ngan, who won in singles and teamed with PJ Samiere for another point Sunday.
Samiere — the third senior — was 3-down at the turn Tuesday, but won the last hole to halve his singles match. Kamehameha junior Spencer Dunaway also won his match, 3 and 1.
Dunaway also offered the team early inspiration, offering a prayer and a Hawaiian chant before the matches.
Hawaii’s captains were HSJGA president Mary Bea Porter-King, former USC coach Cathy Torchiana and Maui pro Jerry King.
"The win basically had to do with Cathy and Jerry and the energy they brought," Porter-King said. "They came up with a game plan and all the kids stuck to it. It was more stay in the moment, stay with each shot. They had a real, clear specific game plan and all the kids went with it. It took away some of the thinking about all other things and kept them in the moment."
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