It wasn’t Pono Yanagi’s best round, but it got him where he wanted to go: junior worlds
It wasn’t Pono Yanagi’s best round, but it got him where he wanted to go: junior worlds
Yanagi, who just finished the eighth-grade at Kamehameha, won the ages 13-14 division Sunday on Kauai at a qualifier for the IMG Junior World Championship.
Hilo’s Isaiah Kanno and Dysen Park also earned berths to worlds, which will will start July 14 at courses in and around San Diego.
Yanagi has made several trips to the tournament, but he missed out the past two years, allowing him to try a new course this time around.
“It’s always exciting to go compete on the mainland and meet and play against new people,” he said.
Yanagi pocketed a two-shot victory, finishing with a 10-over 82 that left him at 14-over for two rounds.
He made three birdies during a 76 on Saturday, but he said he struggled with his irons a day later, when he didn’t birdie a hole at Wailua Golf Course in Lihue.
“The distance of the course suited my game perfectly,” he said. “I just don’t think my preparation for the tournament was enough.”
Kanno finished fourth in boys 11-12, earning his trip by finishing with a 75 and a two-day total of 2-over.
In boys 9-10, Park was 1-under after a 71. He came in third. Park also qualified last year.