KAILUA-KONA — The Hawaii State Junior Golf Association conducted the 2023 Big Island Junior Championship at the Hualalai Golf Course over Labor Day weekend.
A total of 66 youth golfers from across the state teed up at the event — and several Big Island competitors finished among the championship’s top rankings.
Kaha‘i‘olelo Helm of Kea‘au placed first in the Boys 13-14 flight. Helm grossed an even 144, shooting 70 (-2) in the first round and 74 (+2) in the second. Hilo’s Justus Drummondo (+25, 89, 80, 169) and Brady Watanabe (+57, 100, 101, 201) also competed in the same flight — placing No. 7 and No. 9, respectively.
Kona’s Helly Hughes placed third in the Girls 11-12 flight, carding 89 in round one and 87 in round two to gross 176 (+36). Also in the same flight was Hilo’s Scarlett Drummondo (+32, 103, 97, 200), who placed fifth.
Hilo’s Akemi Ejima placed fifth in the Girls 7-10 flight — shooting 76 and 103 to gross 179 (+50).
In the Boys 11-12 flight, Kona’s Blake Nakagawa placed third — shooting 62 in round one and 79 in round two to gross 141 (+12). Elatan Ree of Waikoloa Village placed fourth — carding 65 and 80 to gross 145 (+16). Hilo’s Allan Paiva (+51, 85, 95, 180) placed No. 6.
Waiakea High School’s Noah Otani placed fourth in the Boys 15-18 flight — carding 77 and 73 to gross 150 (+6). Kealakehe High’s Noah Izawa Okazaki (+7, 79, 72, 151) was one stroke behind in fifth place. Jake Otani (+16, 83, 77, 160) finished at No. 10 and Ulukoanui Kailiwai (+25, 80, 89, 169) placed No. 14.
The Otani brothers were part of Waiakea’s 2023 HHSAA state champion team in May, which also placed No. 5 at the PGA’s high school national championship in July. Okazaki competed at state for Kealakehe, helping the Waveriders accomplish a No. 5 finish among 9 teams for their first state championship appearance since the late 2000’s.
Madelyn Awaya (+32, 89, 87, 176) of Hilo placed No. 14 in the Girls 13-14 flight.
This tournament awards points for HSJGA First Tee Hawaii Player of the Year and the season race to the coveted HSJGA First Tee Hawaii Tour Championship on Maui in December (an event that is by invitation only to top finishers on the points list throughout the season).
Winners
Boys 11-12: Brycen James Masey, Honolulu
Boys 13-14: Kaha‘i‘olelo Helm, Keaau
Boys 15-18: Landon Long, Lahaina
Girls 7-10: Lucy Cui, Honolulu
Girls 11-12: Makena Yonemura, Waipahu
Girls 13-14: Alexa Takai, Honolulu
Girls 15-18: Kate Nakaoka, Mililani
Par and yardage per age group
Girls 7-10, Par 72, HSJGA Junior Tees (4,695 approx.)
Boys 11-12, Par 72, Red Tees (5,374 yards approx.)
Girls 11-12, Par 72, Red Tees (5,374 yards approx.)
Boys 13-14, Par 72, White Tees (6,032 yards approx.)
Girls 13-14, Par 72, White Tees (6,032 yards approx.)
Boys 15-18, Par 72, Championship Tees (6,631 yards approx.)
Girls 15-18, Par 72, White Tees (6,032 yards approx.)
