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Maryknoll eighth-grader Mariel Galdiano took out the second and fourth seeds on her way to winning the girls division of the Kaanapali Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Match Play Championship. The tournament ended Sunday on the resort’s Royal Kaanapali Course. Saturday’s matches were on Kaanapali Kai.
Zachary Braunthal won the boys 15-18 championship and Kyle Suppa captured the boys 13-14.
Galdiano was seeded sixth. She beat 2009 state stroke-play champion Kacie Komoto 1 up in one semifinal. In the championship, she defeated fourth-seeded Lisa Kang 3 and 2. Kang also needed 18 holes to defeat Maui’s Kimberlie Miyamoto 2 up in the other semi.
Galdiano, who qualified for this year’s U.S. Women’s Open, built a 3-up lead after 14 holes in the final. Kang won the next hole with a birdie, but Galdiano closed it out by winning the 16th.
Braunthal, a Punahou junior, needed 20 holes to knock off 15-year-old Manoa Cup finalist John Oda. The winner sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th to force extra holes. Both parred the first extra hole (No. 18), then Braunthal won with par on the second extra hole (17).
Suppa beat Maui’s Justin Ngan 4 and 3 in their final. Suppa never needed more than 15 holes in his three wins. Ngan had upset top-seeded Matthew Shen 1-up in the second round.
Consolation winners were Brittany Fan (girls), Aaron Kunitomo (boys 15-18) and Spencer Dunaway (boys 13-14).
UH finishes ninth
Hawaii finished ninthin its first college tournament of the fall season, the Saint Mary’s Invitational at the Bayonet and Blackhorse Courses in Seaside, Calif.
The Rainbows were led by freshman Ryan Kuroiwa, who finished 30th at 75—225. He was followed by Nainoa Calip (78—230), TJ Kua (79—231, Thomas Yamashita (76—232) and Brian Lee (79—235).
Hawaii moved up one place in Tuesday’s final round, shooting 308 for a 914 total. Oregon won the 15-team tournament with a three-round total of 11-under-par 853.
Cal State Northridge junior Chris Russo was the medalist at 70—207. He was the only golfer to shoot under par all three rounds. The only other golfer from Hawaii was San Francisco sophomore Alika Bell (76—229), who finished 42nd.
Notes
» October will again be Kamaaina Appreciation Month at the Mauna Kea Resort’s golf courses. Golfers with a valid Hawaii driver’s license or Hawaii state ID can play Hapuna for $40 or Mauna Kea for $125. To make a tee time, call 808-880-3000 (Hapuna) or 808-882-5400 (Mauna Kea).
» The eighth annual UH-Hilo Alumni and Friends Scholarship Tournament is Oct. 11 at the Waikoloa Kings’ Course. The entry fee is $175 per person and the format is two-person scramble. The entry deadline is Friday. Call 808-974-7501 for more information.
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