‘Iolani’s Hamada leads state girls golf by a shot

‘Iolani’s Kamie Hamada shot even par 72 on Tuesday to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the David S. Ishii Foundation/HHSAA Girls Golf Championships at Turtle Bay Resort’s Fazio Course.

Hamada shot 35 on her front nine and 37 on the back and enters today’s final round a stroke ahead of Kailua’s Kayli Hartsock-Bunyan, Kaiser’s Malia Nam, Maui’s Reese Guzman and Punahou’s Claire Choi, the defending individual champion.

Another seven players are within four shots of the lead.

‘Iolani placed three players in the top 15 to take the lead in the team standings at 224. Kristin Miyagi carded a 75, Kyung Eun Lee had a 77 and the Raiders finished the day five shots ahead of five-time defending champion Punahou. Mid-Pacific is third at 234.

Punahou has won 10 of the past 11 team titles with ‘Iolani interrupting the run in 2012.

The tournament concludes today with play starting at 7 a.m.