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Moanalua High School sophomore Eimi Koga takes a one-shot lead into today’s final round of the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships, being played at nine courses in and around San Diego.
Koga took the lead in the Girls 13-14 division in Tuesday’s opening round, firing a 2-under par 70 at Sycuan Resort’s Oak Glen Course. She hung on with a 2-over 74 yesterday. Three golfers — from Thailand, the Philippines and China — are a shot back.
Five Hawaii girls are in the Top 25 in the 15-17 age division, which finishes tomorrow at Torrey Pines North. Punahou’s Alina Ching (69–145) trails leader Gabriela Lopez, of Mexico, by one shot. ‘Iolani’s Marissa Chow (78–147), the first-round leader, is three back. They are followed by state high school champion Cassy Isagawa (73–151), a Baldwin senior, and Kauai High’s Kelli Oride (74–152), who was runner-up at the last two state high school championships.
Reigning Hawaii State Women’s Match Play champion Allisen Corpuz (73–146) is in second place in the Girls 11-12 division. The leader is California’s Lilia Khatu Vu, at 6-under 140.
Four Hawaii boys are in the top 20 in their age groups — Lahaina’s Aaron Kunitomo (15-17 division), and Honolulu’s Jino Sohn (13-14), Kane Rogers (9-10) and Taylor John McGerity (7-8).
Today is the final round for age groups 14 and younger. The 15-17 girls and boys finish tomorrow.
Igawa advances in Publinx
Chris Igawa of Hilo survived a playoff to reach the match-play portion of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. He then upset sixth-seeded George Bryan 2 and 1 in the first round yesterday at Bryan Park Golf and Conference Center in Greensboro, N.C.
Igawa finished stroke-play qualifying on Tuesday at 5 over par and was among 13 golfers playing for six remaining spots in the bracket in a playoff. He birdied No. 10 (the first hole of the playoff) to earn a spot in the 64-player bracket as the 59th seed.
Igawa bogeyed the first two holes to fall behind early, but drew even when Bryan bogeyed the sixth and seventh.
Igawa claimed the lead with a birdie on No. 9, lost it with a bogey on No. 12 and went ahead for good when Bryan bogeyed the par-5 15th. Igawa secured the win with a birdie on the par-4 17th.
The second and third rounds are scheduled for today. Igawa faces Chase Wilson of North Carolina in his second-round match.
The quarterfinals and semifinals are tomorrow and the 36-hole championship match is Saturday.
Fujikawa five strokes back
Hawaii’s Tadd Fujikawa fired a 2-under-par 69 in yesterday’s opening round of the sixth annual Southern Open, a stop on the eGolf Tour.
The 19-year-old had five birdies, a bogey and a double bogey at The Club at Irish Creek in North Carolina.
The leader is Colton Turnquist, who fired a 7-under 64 at the Warrior Golf Club, where Fujikawa plays today.
Fujikawa, who played the back nine in 3 under, is tied for 38th in the field of 203. The field will be cut to the low 71 and ties after today’s second round.
