Moanalua junior Kristina Merkle, who was part of a state high school championship golf team as a freshman, captured the individual title yesterday at the David S. Ishii Foundation/HHSAA State Girls Championship. Merkle drained an 8-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a one-shot victory.

Waiakea junior Britney Yada and defending champion Anna Jang of Punahou finished one shot back. Maui senior Elyse Okada was two behind.

Punahou successfully defended its team championship at Wailua Golf Course on Kaua'i. The Buffanblu shot 4-over-par 220 Tuesday to take a seven-shot lead over Maui. They followed up with a 221 to win by 17 shots over Waiakea (458). Maui (464), Mid-Pacific (482) and Baldwin (490) rounded out the top five.

Punahou's two-day total was the lowest in the 10-year history of the girls' team event. It also broke a first-round record Tuesday. Hilo held the previous record of 221-223-444, shot in 2003 at Waikoloa Beach.

Wailua proved tougher yesterday, with Jang's 1-over 73 the day's best round. Her score, combined with the scores of Cyd Okino (74—150) and Alina Ching (84—154) provided Punahou's winning margin.

Coach Ed Kageyama kept eight on his varsity this year. Brittany Isobe is the only senior.

"They all get along really well with each other and have a lot of fun," Kageyama said. "That makes my job very enjoyable.

"I told them today to focus on the team and the individual scores would take care of themselves. Seven shots ahead with three scores is not that much. They needed to stay focused and play hard and play smart."

Merkle won the Jennie K. Wilson Invitational the past two years and will defend her title in the Hawai'i women's major next week. Her "practice round" will be tomorrow's U.S. Women's Open local qualifier at Turtle Bay.

Merkle went into the final round trailing Punahou's Ching, a freshman, by a shot. "I tried to be a little more aggressive," Merkle said. "It was the last day and it's golf, so you never know what's going to happen."

Yada clung to her lead until the final hole, when a poor second shot led to bogey. Merkle, playing in the same group, stuck her approach shot to 8 feet and sank the winning putt.

The par-5 ninth hole was another highlight for Merkle, who shot 75 for a total of 146. She hit her second shot on the green and sank an 11-footer for eagle.

TEAM

1, Punahou 441 strokes. 2, Waiakea 458. 3, Maui 464. 4, Mid-Pacific 482. 5, Baldwin 490. 6, Moanalua 494. 7, Kamehameha-Hawai'i 503. 8t, Pearl City 514. 8t, Kaua'i 514. 10, Kamehameha-O'ahu 515. 11, 'Aiea 517. 12, Hilo 535. 13, Roosevelt 543.

INDIVIDUAL

Kristina Merkle (Moan) 71-75—146.

Anna Jang (Pun) 74-73—147.

Britney Yada (Waik) 70-77—147.

Elyse Okada (Maui) 73-76—149.

Cyd Okino (Pun) 76-74—150.

Hayley Young (MPI) 76-74—150.

S. Galon-Mizusawa (Waik) 76-75—151.

Kelli Oride (Kau) 77-76—153.

Nicole Sakamoto (Kalan) 75-78—153.

Kelcie Kawano (Maui) 76-78—154.

Alina Ching (Pun) 70-84—154.

Michelle Condry (Pun) 81-74—155.

Cassy Isagawa (Bald) 81-77—158.

Dayna Bersamin (Bald) 80-79—159.

Kayla Moffett (KSH) 77-82—159.

Megan Ueno (Hilo) 83-77—160.

H. Manini-Hewlen (Roos) 75-85—160.

Kaili Britos (KS) 78-85—161.

Liana Otake (Maui) 78-83—161.

Lindsey Nishimura (Waik) 84-77—161.

Gabrielle Saiki (Kap) 80-82—162.

Jaymie Nakama (MPI) 84-78—162.

Sara Koizumi (PC) 85-79—164.

Brittany Isobe (Pun) 79-85—164.

Alice Kim (UHS) 80-85—165.

Rae-Lyn Morikawa (Kau) 83-83—166.

Kacie Harada (MS) 83-84—167.

Katrina Higa ('Aiea) 82-86—168.

Tammy Surtees (HPA) 81-87—168.

Marissa Suehiro (Pun) 84-84—168.

Casey Aburamen (Waik) 83-85—168.

Dana Cadiz (Maui) 83-86—169.

Kristen Sawada (Mili) 80-89—169.

Alissa Bautista (KSH) 87-83—170.

Kiana Nakanelua (KS) 86-84—170.

Caroline Kwak (Moan) 85-87—172.

Lisa Sugai (PC) 84-89—173.

Kapua Desa (KSH) 83-91—174.

Whitney Nakama (MPI) 83-91—174.

Natasha Fong ('Aiea) 97-78—175.

Ashlyn Kawasaki (MS) 91-84—175.

Richel Ped (Maui) 89-87—176.

Tiffany Oda (Moan) 84-92—176.

C. Kobashikawa ('Aiea) 88-89—177.

Lauren Sugai (PC) 89-88—177.

Taylor Sugimoto (StA) 90-87—177.

Jesselyn Chong (MPI) 91-87—178.

Dominique Akau (Waik) 85-93—178.

Alexis Chang ('Iol) 94-85—179.

L. Magsanide (Camp) 92-88—180.

Jenna Takushi (Bald) 92-89—181.

Kiley Umeda (Hilo) 89-92—181.

Kylie Lum (KS) 91-91—182.

Kelsey Wo (Pun) 95-90—185.

Stephanie Chong (StF) 96-90—186.

Liana Hamada (Roos) 94-93—187.

Celine Haole ('Aiea) 94-94—188.

Cristina Milan (Kaim) 88-100—188.

Devra Purkiss (Kap) 100-89—189.

Hazel Rafol (Keal) 94-96—190.

Anne Rabacal (SH) 96-94—190.

Melissa Kagawa (Waim) 93-97—190.

Kellie Yagi (Hilo) 95-99—194.

Kristi Rapozo (Kau) 101-94—195.

Malie Britos (Roos) 95-101—196.

L. Kanagusuki (KS) 102-95—197.

Sara Ishii (Pun) 96-101—197.

Haylee Chung (Hilo) 96-100—198.

Arielle Andrade (KSM) 97-104—201.

Lenna Lauricio (Lah) 100-102—202.

Rhea Cabalar (Camp) 104-100—204.

M. Tanuvasa (Kahu) 103-102—205.

Kaydee Park (KSM) 100-105—205.

Cindy Kang (McK) 102-111—213.

Jin Orite (Bald) 101-115—216.

Celeste Fong ('Aiea) 103-117—220.

Nicole Torngren (KSH) 111-109—220.

Nicole Soon (Kap) 109-101—220.

An An Hua (Lah) 126-102—228.

Christina Ju (Bald) 84-dq—x.