KAILUA-KONA — The Hawaii State Junior Golf Association (HSJGA) conducted the 2023 Big Island Junior Championship at the Hualalai Golf Course over Labor Day weekend. A total of 66 junior golfers from across the state teed up in the event. This tournament awards points for HSJGA Player of the Year and the season race to the coveted HSJGA Tour Championship in December on Maui.
A few Kailua-Kona golfers partipated in the event, including Blake Nakagawa (141 total gross score) in the boys 11-12 flight with a third-place finish, Noah Izawa Okazaki (151 total gross score, T-5th-place) and Ulukoanui Kailiwai (169 total gross score, 14th place) in the boys 15-18 flight and Helly Hughes (176 total gross score) in the girls 11-12 flight with a third-place score.
The 2023 Big Island Junior Championship first-place winners are as follows:
Boys 11-12: Brycen James Masey, Honolulu
Boys 13-14: Kaha’i’olelo Helm, Keaau
Boys 15-18: Landon Long, Lahaina
Girls 7-10: Lucy Cui, Honolulu
Girls 11-12: Makena Yonemura, Waipahu
Girls 13-14: Alexa Takai, Honolulu
Girls 15-18: Kate Nakaoka, Mililani
The age divisions, par and approximate yardage were as follows:
Girls 7-10: Par 72, HSJGA Junior Tees (4,695 approximately)
Boys 11-12: Par 72, Red Tees (5,374 yards approximately)
Girls 11-12: Par 72, Red Tees (5,374 yards approximately)
Boys 13-14: Par 72, White Tees (6,032 yards approximately)
Girls 13-14: Par 72, White Tees (6,032 yards approximately)
Boys 15-18: Par 72, Championship Tees (6,631 yards approximately)
Girls 15-18: Par 72, White Tees (6,032 yards approximately)