Moanalua High School senior Kristina Merkle and Japan's Kazu Yazaki both shot 3-under par 69 yesterday at Wailua Golf Course on Kaua'i to advance to U.S. Women's Open Sectional Qualifying.

Japan's Yuka Kuriyama shot 70, and Honolulu's Marisa Chow shot 71 to also advance to sectional qualifying play.

Hot weather and little wind made for tough conditions.

Kaua'i's Miki Ueoka shot even par 72 to finish as the first alternate.

Qualifiers will now play in the 36-hole Sectional Qualifying event at Wailua Golf Course on June 15.

The 2009 U.S. Women's Open Championship will be held at Saucon Valley Country Club, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on July 9 to 12. The championship format will be four rounds of stroke play.

SCHEIBACH WINS KAUA'I U.S. OPEN QUALIFIER

Mark Scheibach, of Bermuda Dunes, Calif., advanced to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying yesterday at Wailua Golf Course.

Scheibach fired a 1-under par 71. He will now play in the 36-hole Sectional Qualifying event at Saticoy Country Club in Somis, California on June 8.

Kapa'a's Glenn Tamagawa and Australia's Tim Stewart tied for the first alternate position. In a sudden death playoff, both players birdied the par-5 first hole. Tamagawa scored par at the second hole, while Stewart had a bogey 5.

The 2009 U.S. Open Championship will be held at Bethpage State Park's Black Course, in Farmington, New York, from June 18 to 21. The championship format will be four rounds of stroke play.

AMATEUR SAKA LEADS KONA OPEN BY 1 STROKE

Amateur David Saka fired a 4-under par 68 for a one-stroke lead over Max Bonk, Eric Dugas and Taeksoo Kim yesterday in the first round of the Kona Open at Kona Country Club.

Kevin Hayashi, Mark Micale and Lance Taketa were tied for fifth, two shots off the lead at 70.