Mid-Pacific’s Jake Sequin’s hot start cooled down a bit before his round was done, but he still ended the day as the first-round leader in the David S. Ishii Foundation/HHSAA State Golf Championships on Thursday at the Waikoloa Kings’ Course.
Sequin’s 4-under 68 is two strokes clear of Roosevelt’s Kolbe Irei. He was 6 under after 15, but bogeyed two of his final three holes. He finished the day with a sizzling seven birdies that were offset by his three bogeys and is looking forward to today’s final round.
“For me, I was happy shooting under par,” Sequin said. “I knew not too many people were that low. Both of those (closing) bogeys started off with bad tee shots. Throughout the whole day, though, I was confident in my game and where it’s at. A couple of times, I hit it pretty close to the pin, but mainly it was my consistency the whole day.
“I will try and not think of the lead,” Sequin said about trying to wrap up the state championship today. “I will try to play how I played today, remember how I messed up and try and correct it and hopefully have another good day.”
Kamehameha-Hawaii’s Pono Yanagi finished at even-par 72. All other golfers were over par.
Maryknoll’s Peter Jung, the reigning ILH champion, is still in the chase after a 74.
In the team race, Hawaii Baptist has a 12-shot lead over Waiakea. The Eagles — led by Mason Nakamura (76), Alex Kam (77), Joshua Hayashida (78) and Noah Koshi (79) — are at 22-over 310.
The Warriors will try to make up ground today after Thursday’s effort that included Isaiah Kanno’s 77, Isaac Inouye’s 81, and Kobey Babas’ and Aiden Oki’s 82s. They’re at 34-over 322. ‘Iolani is one shot behind that.
Irei, who was the OIA runner-up a year ago and was in contention for that title again this year, had five birdies and three bogeys in his round of 70.
Mid-Pacific’s Davis Lee, the ILH runner-up, shot a 75, with ILH third-place finisher Jacob Torres of ‘Iolani at 79.
The top three placers in the OIA individual championship tournament did not fare very well Thursday. Winner Curtis Meares of Kalani had a first-round 89. OIA runner-up Toby Baladad of Kaiser shot 84 and third-place finisher Jacob Pritchard of Roosevelt had a 91.
Sequin, Irei and Yanagi tee off at 9:30 a.m. today. Jung goes out at 9:22 along with Punahou’s Marshall Kim (73) and Kealakehe’s Ethan Jaehn (74). Lee has a 9:06 tee time.
STATE TENNIS
Top seeds advance through 2 rounds
Ryo Minakata of Hawaii Prep advanced through the first two rounds of the HMSA/HHSAA State Tennis Championships at Mauna Lani Bay on Thursday.
Minakata won both of his matches 6-0, 6-0.
Punahou’s Clarise Huang advanced as the top seed in girls singles and Robert Chang/Scott Yamamoto of ‘Iolani did the same in boys doubles, as did ‘Iolani’s Celeste Inouye/Denby Nagata in girls doubles.
The next two rounds are today, with the championship on Saturday.
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Star-Advertiser staff
