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Mariel Galdiano’s golf game rolls on in the fast lane.
The Pearl City 17-year-old made the cut at last week’s U.S. Women’s Open and finished second among amateurs. It was Galdiano’s third Open and she ended up tied for 42nd, a shot behind low amateur Megan Khang, also 17.
Galdiano, a friend of Khang’s, closed with a 71 to finish at 6-over 285. By becoming one of five amateurs to make the cut, Galdiano also qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
"When I found out I just made it (Friday), I was like let’s take this home," Galdiano told the USGA.
Khang tied for 35th and her 285 total is the second-lowest score by an amateur in the championship’s 70 years, behind only Grace Park’s 283 in 1999.
Michelle Wie’s 11th-place finish was the best by a defending champion since Juli Inkster took eighth in 2003.
Wie pulled out of this week’s LPGA Marathon Classic because of "lingering bursitis in my left hip and a bone spur in my left foot." She hopes to be back by the Ricoh Women’s British Open (July 29).
Hawaii junior qualifiers set for summer team events
Malia Nam, Zackary Kaneshiro, Allysha Mae Mateo and Jordan Terada captured the age-division titles at last week’s Hawaii State Junior Golf Association’s King Auto Group 13-18 State Junior Championships.
The tournament’s conclusion at Hokuli`a also finalized Hawaii qualifiers for this summer’s team events, based on HSJGA points, and the Trusted Choice Big I Qualifier next month in Kansas.
Nam, a Kaiser sophomore, shot 73-72 to win the Girls 15-18 championship by a stroke over Aiko Leong and Mari Nishiura. Kaneshiro opened with a 63 and won the boys’ title by three over Kyle Suppa (71–140).
Mateo (74–151) won the Girls 13-14 title by five shots over Jennifer Koga and Kahului’s Terada (74–152) was a shot better than Hilo’s Pono Yanagi.
Leong, who just earned a spot in next month’s U.S. Women’s Amateur with Marissa Chow, will be Hawaii’s girls representative at Big I along with Alanis Sakuma. Kaneshiro and Jun Ho Won will represent the boys.
Also, Terada, Shawn Lu, Millburn Ho and Zoey Akagi earned the HSJGA’s four spots in this year’s Japan High School Golf Championship. They will play at Ube 72 Country Club, in Ajisu, Japan, Aug. 4-9.
Team qualifers:
» Junior America’s Cup: Kyosuke Hara, Kyle Suppa, Andrew Chin and Jun Ho Won (Captain: Rick Castillo). Malia Nam, Mari Nishiura, Aiko Leong and Alanis Sakuma (Cathy Torchiana).
» Eddie Hogan Cup: Kaneshiro, Justin Williamson, Justin Arcano and Kengo Aoshima (Larry Keil).
» Mary Cave Cup: Jasmine Cabajar, Allysha Mae Mateo, Lorraine Char, Jennifer Koga (Brenda Rego).
Koga helps Team USA to bronze-medal finish
Eimi Koga, the 2011 state high school champ for Moanalua, helped Team USA to a bronze-medal finish at the World University Games in South Korea last week.
The three-person American team medaled by shooting 582 over four rounds, 15 back of gold-medalist Republic Korea and a shot ahead of Chinese Taipei.
After playing her first two years for Washington, Koga is transferring to Hawaii.
Poipu offers free golf for juniors at Poipu Bay
Juniors between the ages of 6-17 can again play for free this summer at Poipu Bay Golf Course on Kauai.
Juniors accompanied by a paying adult are free and a second junior can play for half price. Junior golf clubs can also be rented for free.
The program is good every day through Aug. 31. Call 808-742-8711 for tee times.
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