ISLE FILE
Kono wins U.S. Amateur opener
Advertiser Staff
Honolulu golfer Stephanie Kono defeated Julie Yang of Phoenix, 3 and 2, in the opening round of match play yesterday at the U.S. Women's Amateur at Eugene (Ore.) Country Club.
Belen Mozo of Spain ousted Honolulu's Ayaka Kaneko, winning on the 19th hole with a par.
Kono, a recent Punahou graduate who will be a UCLA freshman in the fall, never trailed in her match with Yang, winning the first hole with a birdie. Kono built a 4-up lead through nine holes before Yang closed it to 2-up with wins on the 10th and 12th holes. Kono won the par-5 No. 13 with a birdie, while Yang won the par-4 No. 15 with a par. Kono won with a birdie on the par-5 No. 16 to go 3-up with two holes to go.
Kono faces Jane Chin of Mission Viejo, Calif., in today's second round (of 32). Chin advanced by beating UCLA golfer Tiffany Joh, of San Diego, with a birdie on the 18th hole.
The third round also is scheduled for today. The championship match is Sunday.
MERKLE, FINK TRAIL AT BIG 'I' JUNIOR CLASSIC
Honolulu's Kristina Merkle shot a 9-over-par 81 today and was tied for 16th in girls division after the third round of the Trusted Choice Big "I" Junior Classic at the Country Club of North Carolina's DogWood Course in Pinehurst, N.C.
Kailua's David Fink shot a 79 and was tied for 26th at 8-over 224 in the boys division.
Merkle was at 17-over 233, 16 strokes behind leader Ginger Howard (73) of Bradenton, Fla., entering today's final round.
Logan McCracken of Oklahoma City, Okla., shot a 70 and held a six-shot lead at 6-under 210.
BASEBALL
CALIFORNIA, JAPAN TEAMS JOIN MOVERS IN TOURNEY
The Hawaii Island Movers will cap their collegiate summer season by hosting the four-team Hawaii International Baseball Championship Tournament starting today at Les Murakami Stadium.
Joining the Movers are Nor-Cal, based out of San Mateo, Calif., the Hiroshima Big Six University All-Stars and the Kansai Big Six University All-Stars. The Japanese all-star teams are made up of players from the six teams from their respective regions.
The Movers (11-8) played a series of games in Japan last month. The tournament ends their season, as the players return to their respective colleges.
SCHEDULE
Today—Kansai vs. Hiroshima, 1:30 p.m.; Movers vs. Nor-Cal, 5 p.m.
Tomorrow—Nor-Cal vs. Kansai, 1:30 p.m.; Movers vs. Hiroshima, 5 p.m.
Saturday—Hiroshima vs. Nor-Cal, 1:30 p.m.; Movers vs. Kansai, 5 p.m.
Sunday—Third seed vs. fourth seed, noon; Championship, 4 p.m.
