Kim, Leong take narrow wins at state match play

Alice Kim and Aiko Leong closed fast to win their opening-round matches, 1 up, Wednesday in the Hawaii State Women’s Match Play Championship at Oahu Country Club.

Leong, a 15-year-old Punahou sophomore, eagled the 19th hole (401-yard par-5 No. 1) to upset sixth-seeded Kelli Oride. Both players birdied the 18th to force extra holes.

Kim, a University High graduate about to start her junior year at Gonzaga, battled back from 5 down against Monique Ishikawa. Kim played the final three holes in 2-under par, birdieing the 16th and 17th to tie Ishikawa and parring the 18th to win.

Defending champion Cassy Isagawa is the No. 1 seed and received a first-round bye. So did second-seeded Kacie Komoto, who earned medalist honors in morning qualifying after shooting a 3-under-par 70 on her home course.

Two-time champions Cyd Okino and Nicole Sakamoto both won. Okino beat 14th-seeded Keila Baladad 7 and 6, while Sakamoto defeated Lisa Kang 4 and 3. Kang was a finalist last year.

Kristen Sawada ousted fourth-seeded Sydney Maluenda 2 and 1, and seventh-seeded Hansol Koo beat Zoey-Ann Yamamoto 5 and 4.

Qualifying scores: 1, (defending champion) Cassy Isagawa 71. 2, Kacie Komoto 70. 3, Cyd Okino 71. 4, Sydney Maluenda 72. 5, Nicole Sakamoto 76. 6, Kelli Oride 76. 7, Hansol Koo 76. 8, Monique Ishikawa 76. 9, Alice Kim 78. 10, Zoey-Ann Yamamoto 78. 11, Aiko Leong 78. 12, Lisa Kang 82. 13, Kristen Sawada 83. 14, Keila Baladad 86.

Galdiano leads at Callaway Junior Worlds

State high school champion Mariel Galdiano birdied the last two holes to take a three-shot lead Wednesday in the second round of the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships. The tournament is played on San Diego area courses.

Galdiano, a Punahou sophomore, is competing in the 15-17 age division. She shot a 3-under-par 69 at Torrey Pines North and is at 139 at the halfway point. Honolulu’s Ji Hae Lee jumped into a tie for third after shooting 71. She is five behind Galdiano. Brittany Fan (72—146) is tied for 11th.

The younger age groups finish today, with the 15-17 divisions ending Friday.

Only Samiere advances

Kailua’s PJ Samiere is the only Hawaii golfer left after Wednesday’s first round of match play at the 88th U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Laurel Hill Golf Club in Lorton, Va.

Samiere, seeded 22nd, defeated 43rd-seeded Sean Kelly, from New York, 3 and 2. Samiere, this year’s Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, never trailed after the fourth hole. He won the 11th and 12th with birdies to go 2 up, then closed it out with another birdie on the par-3 16th.

Hawaii’s John Oda and Taeksoo Kim, seeded 28th and 29th, were among the upset victims in a first round where even the medalist — Canada’s Garrett Rank — was ousted.

Mitchell McLeroy, from Texas, took out Oda 1 up. McLeroy won with par on the 18th. Nick Brothers, from Florida, defeated Kim 6 and 5.