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Washington State’s Nani Yanagi started her junior season in a big way Tuesday, winning her first collegiate tournament.
The 2012 Waiakea alumna shot the low round of the day among the nine teams in the field, closing with a 2-under 70 to win the WSU Cougar Cup by three strokes.
Yanagi started the final round two shots back of the lead at 4 under after opening with rounds of 71 and 69 on Monday.
She finished at 6 under for the tournament to win by three. Washington State won the tournament despite Yanagi playing as an individual. Her score didn’t count toward the team total 3 over, which beat second-place BYU by 16 strokes.
"I’m definitely excited — kind of shocked," Yanagi said after the round. "My confidence level is pretty high right now. I really wanted to do well for my team this week and I’m really happy that I was able to prove that."
Elsewhere, Pepperdine junior Marissa Chow won her first collegiate tournament on Wednesday after closing with a final round 5-under 67 to win the Golfweek Collegiate Cup in Wolcott, Colo.
Chow, a 2012 ‘Iolani graduate, was the 36-hole leader at 1 under and blew everyone away with birdies on each of her first four holes. She finished with seven birdies on the day and tied her personal bests with both a round of 67 and a tournament total of 6-under 210.
Chow had three runner-up finishes in her first two seasons with the Waves but had never won a collegiate tournament outright. She was named to the Golfweek All-America third team as a sophomore.
Pepperdine senior Alina Ching (Punahou ’11) had her best finish in a tournament in two years placing 11th at 5 over after closing with a 75.
Hawaii’s Williamson to play at First Tee Open
Justin Williamson, a member of The First Tee of Hawaii and Hawaii State Junior Golf Association, will play with Kailua pro Scott Simpson in this week’s Nature Valley First Tee Open.
The Champions Tour event starts Friday at Pebble Beach Golf Links. It brings together First Tee golfers ages 14-18 and senior pros as they chase the pro-junior title in conjunction with the senior championship.
Williamson is one of 81 juniors chosen from First Tee chapters across the country. His selection was based on golf achievements and his work with First Tee and its Life Skills Education Curriculum. He is currently mentoring younger players in the program at Hickam’s Par-3 course.
Ota, Grant, Chin represent Hawaii
Tyler Ota, Brent Grant and Andrew Chin will represent Hawaii at the 11th USGA Men’s State Team Championship, starting Tuesday at French Lick, Ind.
The national championship is held every other year, alternating with the women’s state team event. There is no age limit, but current college players are not eligible. Hawaii’s team is chosen based on the Hawaii State Golf Association Performance Points List.
Texas has won three men’s titles. All 50 states, along with Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. will compete.
Ota, who caddied for Casey Nakama at last week’s Pacific Links Hawaii Championship, was runner-up in last year’s Mayor’s Cup. He has Top-10 finishes at this year’s State Amateur Stroke Play and Mid-Pacific Open.
Grant won the Army Invitational last month, took fifth at this year’s State Amateur and was second at Barber’s Point last year. Chin was sixth at Stroke Play and tied Ota for sixth in Championship Flight at Mid-Pacific this year.
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