Hawaii in first at Junior America's Cup

High school seniors Cassy Isagawa and Alina Ching shot 3-under-par 69s yesterday to lead Hawaii into first place after the opening round of the Girls Junior America's Cup at Morgan Run Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Hawaii was the only team to break par. Its total of 5-under-par 211 (best three scores of four golfers) is five shots better than British Columbia and six ahead of Oregon.

Isagawa, the reigning state high school champion from Baldwin, had three birdies and no bogeys. Ching, from Punahou, birdied her first two holes, bogeyed the fourth, then climbed to 3 under with birdies at Nos. 7 and 10.

They share first with British Columbia's Jennifer Yang. Cyd Okino, another Punahou senior, is tied for eighth at 73. Reigning Hawaii state stroke-play champion Kacie Komoto, a Punahou sophomore, shot 75 and is tied for 18th.

The Girls Junior America's Cup started in 1978. Hawaii's only win came in 1992.

The Hawaii boys are sixth after the first day of their Junior America's Cup at Isleta Eagle Golf Course in Albuquerque, N.M. Hawaii has a team score of 1-over 214, six shots behind first-place British Columbia.

Alex Chiarella leads Hawaii after opening with a 1-under 70. He is tied for eighth. Michael Fan is a shot back, Ryan Kuroiwa fired a 73 and Justin Chu a 74.

Both America's Cup events end tomorrow.

At the Trusted Choice Big I National Championship being played at Old York Country Club at Chesterfield, N.J., Honolulu's Alice Kim stands 14th after opening with a 5-over 77. Kim is seven shots out of first with three rounds left to play. Hilo's Ciera Min opened with an 83.

On the boys side, Lahaina's Aaron Kunitomo is seven shots out of first and is part of a 14-way tie for 21st after an opening-round 75. Justin Keiley opened with an 80.