Kono in quarters of U.S. Women’s Amateur

After working overtime in the opening round, Hawaii’s Stephanie Kono never trailed Thursday as she stormed into today’s quarterfinals of the 111th U.S. Women’s Amateur at Rhode Island Country Club.

The UCLA senior ousted 14-year-old Lydia Ko and Tiffany Lua, both by 3-and-2 scores.

In the afternoon, Kono led from the second hole on against Lua, her UCLA teammate. Kono was 4 up after eight holes.

“Against a good friend, it’s hard,” Kono told USGA.org. “We play with each other all the time in college, so I say, ‘Oh yeah, Lu!’ when she makes a putt. Tiff missed a few putts in the beginning of our match.”

In the second-round morning match against Ko, who is No. 1 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, Kono led from the third hole and was 4 up at the turn.

Kono, a Punahou graduate and three-time All-American at UCLA, is playing in her 22nd USGA championship. Her best finishes were semifinal appearances at the 2007 Girl’s Junior and 2008 Women’s Amateur Public Links.

Of the 32 players who started Thursday, she is the only one born before 1990.

Lua, from Rowland Heights, Calif., was playing in her 20th USGA Championship. She has reached three semifinals, including this year’s publinx. Lua and Kono were Curtis Cup teammates last year.

Kono plays NCAA champion Austin Ernst of LSU today. Semifinals are Saturday and the final, scheduled for 36 holes, Sunday.