Kamehameha junior Pono Yanagi torched Hualalai’s golf course on the front nine with a 33. But he had a 38 on the back nine for a 1-under 71.
On Sunday, that was good for a two-stroke lead after the first round of the BIIF championships, which features a stacked leaderboard.
Right behind is Hilo’s Riley Kaneshiro at 73, Waiakea’s Aiden Oki at 74; Kamehameha freshman Dillon Ah Chong at 76, and Waiakea’s Isaiah Kanno, the defending champion, also at 76.
The top 18 advance to the final round on Tuesday at Hapuna.
For the girls, Waiakea freshman Lacey Uchida was consistent with a 36-35 for a 71 and leads sophomore teammate Mari Ebersole, the defending champion, by two shots.
Ebersole has been on a nice momentum roll.
Last Wednesday at Kohanaiki, she shot a 70 to take medalist honors by six strokes. Uchida wasn’t in the field.
On April 11 at Mauna Lani, Ebersole won her first BIIF meet with a 79 by three strokes over Waiakea senior Kaelyn Uchida, who had an 82. Lacey Uchida didn’t compete.
Waiakea senior and two-time BIIF champ Kaley Saludares is within striking distance after her 77.
Hilo freshman Chanelle Hwang carded an 80, along with Waiakea junior Jillian Mitsuda and Kaelyn Uchda.
Waiakea’s other talented freshman Kailey Okia shot an 81 while Waiakea junior Tia Kualii is at 84.
The top nine girls advance to the final round.
