Every spherical is relative to a golfer’s expectations.
Kevin Yamashita’s 2-under 70 on Sunday at Hualalai?
Not adequate. Not on the Kealakehe junior’s house course.
“He wasn’t happy with the way he played today. He made five birdies but definitely left a few more on the putting green,” Waveriders coach Justin Lee stated. “Also, the three bogeys prevented him from reaching his mid 60s goal.”
Still, Lee will take a three-stroke result in the ultimate spherical of the BIIF championships, which shift to Mauna Kea on Tuesday, after pulling away from Waiakea junior Dysen Park on the again 9 Sunday. Down by a stroke at 2-under, Yamashita took the lead with a birdie on the par-3 12, a gap by which Park took his first bogey. Park double-bogeyed the subsequent gap, and Yamashita added to his lead with a birdie on 18.
Waiakea’s Noah Otani was one other shot again after carding a 74, although Warriors women coach Bobby Perreira stated Otani misplaced a stroke when a penalty was assessed to his group for sluggish play. Otani acquired to 1-under with a birdie on No. 12, however he bogeyed 15 and took a double bogey on 16. Makua Lani’s Caleb Makoff eagled the par-5 fourth gap and shot 76 and was tied with Waiakea’s Ryder Ng.
The ultimate spherical could possibly be a unique animal, Lee stated.
“You never want to underestimate Mauna Kea,” he stated. “The course normally plays very difficult, depending on the wind conditions and pin placements it can overwhelm even the most experienced player.”
In the ladies event, Waiakea’s Elle Otani will take to Mauna Kea with a one-shot lead over Kiersten Saludares, her fellow senior teammate and good friend. Otani had a “makeable” birdie placed on No. 18, Perreira stated, that lipped out, and she or he settled for a 76.
That putt not withstanding, Otani was sturdy on the greens within the first spherical.
“Twenty-eight putts, 14 on the front, 14 on the back, that’s exceptional,” Perreira stated.
Saludares took 33 pictures on the greens, three-putting twice, together with on the par-5 No. 7, which she made par on.
Otani and Saludares have been tied for the lead on the flip at 3-over together with Hawaii Prep’s Isabella Rodriguez, who misplaced 4 strokes on Nos. 11-13 and carded a 79 to make the ultimate threesome. The two Waiakea golfers went backwards and forwards with the lead till Saludares bogeyed 16 and 18.
Perreira expects a enjoyable duel Tuesday.
“Elle an Kiersten are striking the ball well,” Perreira stated. “They are going to have their misses right here and there, approaches to the inexperienced, however they don’t get in hassle. It’s only a matter of whose putter is hotter.
“They are going to push each other.”
First spherical
Sunday at Hualalai
Par 72
Qualifiers for ultimate spherical
Boys
*received four-hole playoff to qualify
Kevin Yamashita, Kealakehe 70
Dysen Park, Waiakea 73
Ryder Ng, Waiakea 74
Calen Makoff, Makua Lani 76
Ryder Ng, Waiakea 76
Darrell Ramos Jr, Hilo 85
Xander Broderson, Kealakehe 89
Kolton McCallum, Waiakea 91
Kaiden Ambrosio, Hilo 94
Lucas Yamanaka, Waiakea 97
Aidan Puleo, Hilo 98
Tristin Laflamme, Kealakehe 98
Adam Perry, Kamehameha 100
Jaxyn Hasegawa, Hilo 101
Luke Kellikuli, Kamehameha 103
Reyn Kaneshiro, Hilo 103
Kawika Peterson, Hilo 104
*Michael Perry, Kamehameha 107
Girls
Elle Otani, Waiakea 76
Kierstyn Saludares, Waiakea 77
Isabelle Rodriguez, Hawaii Prep 79
Ella Forest, Hawaii Prep, 93
Mika Holi, Hilo 97
Selena Yoo, Hawaii Prep 98
Adrianna Volpe, Kamehameha 102
Christina Jung, Hilo 110
Leiah Kang, Waiakea 117