Shon Katahira wasn’t brilliant like Travis Rick on Monday, but was he wasn’t sloppy either.
Shon Katahira wasn’t brilliant like Travis Rick on Monday, but was he wasn’t sloppy either.
Katahira was steady, putting himself in good position to reach match play at his first U.S. Junior Amateur.
The Waiakea senior started with eight pars and he balanced two birdies and two bogeys for an even-par 72 at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn.
Katahira enters the second round tied for 19th, giving himself a little room with which to play. The top 64 after another 18 holes Tuesday qualify for match play. A group of 12 golfers was tied for 64th at 75, and three others were 3-over but couldn’t finish there rounds because of darkness.
Play was twice delayed because of inclement weather, costing the field of 156 almost 2 hours of play.
Rick of Houston fired a course-record 64 with a bogey-free round that left him one shot ahead of Cole Hammer, also of Houston. With eight birdies, Rick was two shots off the best stroke-play round at the Junior Amateur.
Both of Katahira’s bogeys came on par-4 holes, and he birdied two par 4s as well.
Zackary Kaneshiro of Aiea, Oahu, was 7-over and in a tie for 115th when his round was cut short after 17 holes.
Gold Coast 2-2 at softball regional
The Gold Coast Junior All-Stars lost for the second consecutive day at the Western Regional Little League softball tournament in Tuscon, Ariz., falling 5-3 to Nunaka Valley of Alaska.
Jayla Medeiros (3 for 3) and Shaylann Grace each hit home runs to power Gold Coast’s offense, and Natasha Molina (2 for 4) and Andi Uemura each doubled.
Alexis Martinez started and worked two innings, giving up four runs – two earned – on six hits with four strikeouts. Grace provided five innings of strong relief, striking out 10.
Grace struck out eight Saturday as Gold Coast opened the regional with a 6-4 victory against Nunaka, and later in the day Medeiros (4 for 4, three RBIs) and Grace (3 for 4, four RBIs) fueled Gold Coast to a 13-3 victory against Flagstaff, Ariz.
On Sunday, Olivehurst-Linda of Northern California beat Gold Coast 9-3.
Gold Coast is coached by Konawaena softball coach Shellie Grace and drew a bye to regionals.