HUALALAI — The first round of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Individual Golf Championships took place on Saturday morning at Hualalai — with only the top-nine girls and top-18 boys qualifying for today’s final round at 9:30 a.m. at Hokuli‘a.
Part of Saturday’s outing was an 18-hole team playoff between Waiakea and Hawaii Prep girls, who were tied in cumulative season score heading into the round. The Warriors prevailed with a +38 (254), beating Ka Makani by 13 strokes. Waiakea had three golfers finish in the individual top 10.
“I am very proud of these young ladies — HPA is a tough squad,” Warriors coach Bobby Perreira said. “They knew what they had to do, and they believed in each other and got the job done. It was a great team win.”
HPA’s Anna Sailer won the round with a 77, but Waiakea’s Madelyn Awaya and Kiara Kimata finished right behind in second and third, respectively. Awaya carded an 81 while Kimata posted an 83. It was Sailer’s fifth win of the season — the best in the BIIF. For Awaya, it was her fifth top-three finish of the season.
Over in the boys competition, Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i’s Kaha‘i Helm surprised many by winning his first individual round of 2024 with a 71 (-1). Waiakea stars Ryder Ng (73) and Jake Otani (74) finished right behind Helm in second and third, respectively. Throughout 2024, Ng has finished in the top three five times this season, while Otani has carded a top-three finish four times.
The official results from today’s qualifiers can be found below. To read results from the final round, please see the paper later this week.
Girls (Top nine)
1. Anna Sailer, HPA — 77
2. Madelyn Awaya, Waiakea — 81
3. Kiara Kimata, Waiakea — 83
4. Lauren Kozohara, Hilo — 84
5. Kierstin Ramos, Hilo — 85
6. Kaylee Palakiko-Belt, Kealakehe — 89
T7. Ava Herr, Waiakea — 90
T7. Mika Holi, Hilo — 90
9. Adriana Volpe, KS-Hawai‘i — 93
Boys (Top 18)
1. Kaha‘i Helm, KS-Hawai‘i — 71
2. Ryder Ng, Waiakea — 73
3. Jake Otani, Waiakea — 74
T4. Noah Otani, Waiakea — 76
T4. Tyler Maag, Hilo — 76
6. Iakona Manuia, Hilo — 77
T7. Matty Inaba, HPA — 78
T7. Noah Okazaki, Kealakehe — 78
9. Xander Broderson, Kealakehe — 79
10. Noah Miyazono, Waiakea — 80
11. Parker Smithson, HPA — 81
T12. Reyn Kaneshiro, Hilo — 84
T12. Kaiden Ambrosio, Hilo — 84
T14. Tristan LaFlamme, Kealakehe — 86
T14. Aidan Puleo, Hilo — 86
T14. Malakai Akeo, Kealakehe — 86
T14. Kysen Taniguchi, Waiakea — 86
18. Olin Sakamoto, Waiakea — 87
BIIF players selected to state
Following Saturday’s round, the BIIF announced its official list of individual state qualifiers for the 2024 David S. Ishii Foundation Golf Championsips at Kaneohe Clipper Golf Course on Oahu. The boys championship will be April 30-May 1, while the girls will be May 7-8.
Qualifiers were determined based on average score through an individual’s best four rounds. Ryder Ng was the boys’ top qualifier with an average score of 73 from his top-four performances, while Anna Sailer led the girls with an average of 75.
The official list can be found below:
Girls
• Anna Sailer, HPA
• Madelyn Awaya, Waiakea
• Kierstin Ramos, Hilo
• Isabella Rodriguez, HPA
• Lauren Kozahara, Hilo
• Kiara Kimata, Waiakea
• Ava Herr, Waiakea
• Helly Highes, HPA
• Zaynie Lee Chow, KS-Hawai‘i
• Mika Holi, Hilo
• Kaylee Palakiko-Belt, Kealakehe
• (Alt. 1) Adriana Volpe, KS-Hawai‘i
• (Alt. 2) Ella Forrest, HPA
• (Alt. 3) Christina Jung, Hilo
Boys
• Ryder Ng, Waiakea
• Jake Otani, Waiakea
• Noah Otani, Waiakea
• Matty Inaba, HPA
• Noah Okazaki, Kealakehe
• Kaha‘i Helm, KS-Hawai‘i
• Xander Broderson, Kealakehe
• Tyler Maag, Hilo
• Noah Miyazono, Waiakea
• Iakona Manuia, Hilo
• Parker Smithson, HPA
• Tristan LaFlamme, Kealakehe
• Aidan Puleo, Hilo
• Reyn Kaneshiro, Hilo
• Skyler Miyashiro, Hilo
• (Alt. 1) Jonah Anders, HPA
• (Alt. 2) Disel DeMello, KS-Hawai‘i
• (Alt. 3) Malakai Akeo, Kealakehe
• (Alt. 4) David Hoag, Konawaena
• (Alt. 5) Olin Sakamoto, Waiakea