Fink, Kono win ILH golf championships
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Iolani freshman David Fink sank a 20-foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole yesterday to defeat senior teammate Shun Aonuma by one stroke for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship.
Fink finished with a 2-over-par 74 at Waialae Country Club for a two-day score of 145; Aonuma carded a 73-146 total. Fink began the day with a one-stroke lead after a 71 at Oahu Country Club on Monday, stretched it to two strokes on the front nine, lost it on the 12th hole and then took it back for good by chipping in from a bunker on 13.
He clinched the title with the birdie putt after both he and Aonuma reached the par-5 18th in regulation. Aonuma also sank his birdie putt, from about 15 feet.
"I wasn't even paying attention to my line, I just knew I had to make it," Fink said. "It's a great feeling to win, but it would not be possible without Shun and the rest of our Iolani team. At the beginning of the round, we told each other, 'Let's make sure we finish 1-2, Iolani.' "
Aonuma said he was happy that at least if he finished second, it was to one of his teammates.
"At the 10th hole, we said, 'Let's do it for the school,' " said Aonuma, who will attend Dartmouth in the fall.
Fink may have been an unlikely Raider champion, and not because of his youth. Just a few weeks ago, he was struggling with his game and posted scores of 85 and 82 in competition.
"I started this season shaky, then I got steady, and then I just fell apart," Fink said. "I don't know what it was — I wish I could blame it on something. But I'm glad I got it back together."
Punahou sophomore Stephanie Kono repeated as the girls champion by shooting a 2-over 74 for a two-day total of 144. She began yesterday with a seven-stroke lead over La Pietra's Ashlee Nagamine, who finished with an 83-160 total. Punahou's Anna Jang was third at 82-161.
Kono, who has won tournaments at the national junior and Hawai'i women's open level, said she takes great satisfaction in winning the ILH. While her Punahou schoolmate, Michelle Wie, is playing in a pro tournament in South Korea amid a media circus, Kono accepted her medal yesterday before a small gathering of about 30 people outside the Waialae pro shop.
"Anytime you win, it still feels good," Kono said. "It's just as fun. It's a lot of fun to play on a (school) team, because our teammates have a close group."
Punahou clinched the ILH boys and girls team titles last week. The top 29 boys and the top 23 girls over the course of the season qualified for the state tournament. (See list in For the Record, D5.)
ILH CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
BOYS
David Fink, Iolani 71-74—145
Shun Aonuma, Iolani 73-73—146
Colton Knedler, Punahou 73-78—151
Jack Sisler, Punahou 72-81—153
Ryan Yoshida, Hawai'i Baptist 76-77—153
Rob Kishi, Punahou 77-78—155
Spencer Shishido, Iolani 78-77—155
Thomas Kua, Kamehameha 73-83—156
Ethan Wang, Mid-Pacific 74-82—156
Shane Adversalo, University High 76-82—158
Jonathan Khil, Punahou 75-83—158
Alex Chu, Maryknoll 75-85—160
Harry Kersten, Mid-Pacific 73-87—160
Travis Liu, Maryknoll 76-86—162
Mikah Obrero, Hawai'i Baptist 80-82—162
Keoho Ishimine, Kamehameha 76-88—164
Zachary Napier, Iolani 80-85—165
Koa Siverly, Kamehameha 77-88—165
Ryan Hironaka, Maryknoll 79-87—166
Travis Sonomura, Hawai'i Baptist 78-89—167
Nicholas Olinski, HW 79-90—169
GIRLS
Stephanie Kono, Punahou 70-74—144
Ashlee Nagamine, La Pietra 77-83—160
Anna Jang, Punahou 79-82—161
Katie Sisler, Punahou 85-77—162
Miya Argent, Sacred Hearts 85-81—166
Erin Matsuoka, Punahou 81-85—166
Hayley Young, Mid-Pacific 84-83—167
Jamie Nonaka, Punahou 83-91—174
Caressa Matsuoka, St. Andrew's 84-91—175
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.