Moanalua golfers Hara and Lu on common ground

There’s a lot in common between Kyosuke Hara and Shawn Lu. Even if not by design, the two Moanalua seniors always seem to cross paths.

Take the 2013 Manoa Cup as an example. In a field of mostly high school upperclassmen and college athletes, the two found themselves as unlikely contenders and faced off in the quarterfinals.

“Our matchups were people that were older and better than us,” Lu said. “Somehow we both won and then found out that we were playing each other. I was just stoked.”

Hara advanced to the semifinals, where he fell to eventual champion Jared Sawada. But it was the quarterfinals that was the lasting memory.

With that, both let out a laugh.

“He was cruising and I was having a hard time just keeping my composure,” Lu said. “It was a blast, but it would have been better if I played better.”

Hara and Lu entered the Moanalua program tasked with helping to maintain a dynasty. Na Menehune have won the past nine OIA titles and are expected to run it to double digits this year.

Though both have contributed to the program’s success, there’s still room for the tandem to compete against each other.

Hara has the edge in big prep events, winning the OIA individual championship last year while Lu finished third. Hara took second to Lu’s sixth when they were sophomores and Lu had the edge as a freshman with a fourth-place finish to Hara’s fifth.

Hara has kept the edge in the state tournament, finishing second to Kamehameha’s Spencer Dunaway last year while Lu slipped to 12th. Lu had the edge by four spots when they were sophomores and Hara beat Lu by a spot when they were freshmen.

Needless to say, the duo goes way back.

“Me and him are actually really tight. In elementary school, we played our first U.S. Kids tournament together and since that we’ve been close,” Hara said. “We’re like brothers almost.”

Then there’s the biggest decision each has made thus far: college. Both have signed with Oregon State and will make their way to Corvallis in the fall.

“For me it was not really a short process but a fast one,” Hara said. “Coach Jon (Reehoorn) came to watch a couple of my tournaments in the summer and then I got an email. I was looking at other schools too, but I really liked the atmosphere that the school was in and the program.”

Although Hara committed a couple of months before he did, Lu claims that committing to play for the Beavers was his own decision.

Both will pursue international business degrees. Again, separate decisions, but the same outcome nonetheless.

“I started getting more interested because (Reehoorn) was a really good guy and I thought it was a really good fit for me in the future. … Then all of a sudden I got an offer,” Lu said. “I thought about it some more and then I guess I committed verbally.”

The two are coached by Jon Radke, who believes that the pair taking the next step together will be beneficial.

“They’re just two regular guys that are working on mastering their skills. They practice a lot and they got their priorities straight,” Radke said. “I think it will be a smooth transition for them and I think having them go to a Division I college together as a team and having a buddy to be out there with, it’s kind of going to help with feeling homesick.”

They can join Punahou’s Kyle Suppa to add three names to the list of four-time top 15 finishers at states, which hasn’t had more than one member added in any year.

Hara and Lu have entertained the notion of turning pro before exhausting their college eligibility.

But for now? Bringing Moanalua the team state title in May is the focus.

“Obviously the goal is to win states,” Hara said. “But we just gotta take our time and enjoy ourselves and work hard, play hard always.”

The High School Top 10

Voted on by coaches and media statewide. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, etc.

Also receiving votes: Waiakea 7, Punahou I-AA 3, Kealakehe 2, Waianae 1.

Also receiving votes: Maui 12, Kailua 10, Moanalua 7, Campbell 6, Kamehameha-Hawaii 2.

Also receiving votes: ‘Iolani 12, Kamehameha-Hawaii 12, Lahainaluna 9, Waiakea 6, Mid-Pacific 4, St. Francis 3, Baldwin 2, Roosevelt 2, Konawaena 1, Leilehua 1.