WAIKOLOA — It took 50 years, but Kamehameha-Kapalama finally has a state champion boys golfer.
Spencer Dunaway fired a 69 at Waikoloa Kings’ Course, finishing with a two-day total of 3-under 139, topping a field of 96 of the state’s best golfers at the 50th edition of the David S. Ishii Foundation/HHSAA state boys golf championship on Friday.
“It’s something special,” Dunaway said. “We have had a ton of great players come through our program. The one that stands out to me is (2008 graduate) TJ Kua. He was probably the greatest. He got into a playoff here and lost, so being able to bring this championship back to Kamehameha is really something special.”
Waiakea’s Trevor Hirata was seeking to become the first state champion from the BIIF since Honokaa’s Sean Maekawa captured the top prize at the same course in 2007. However, Hirata could not overcome a trio of bogeys in his final round. He finished in 10th place with a two-day total of 2-over 146.
Moanalua’s Kyosuke Hara and Punahou’s Andrew Chin tied for second, both finishing at 2-under 142 for the tournament.
Punahou won the team title for the third straight year with a two-day total of 576. Moanalua finished in a distant second 17 strokes back. The Buffanblu were helped by the efforts of Kyle Suppa, who shot a Round 2 best 68, including a 33 on the front nine.
Waiakea — the BIIF’s lone team with Kamehameha-Hawaii not competing in Round 2 — finished sixth.
Dunaway entered the day in a four-way tie for first after carding a two-under 70 in his first round. But instead of getting uncomfortable by the packed leaderboard, Dunaway embraced it.
“I think because a lot of people were bunched up at the top it took away a lot of the nerves,” Dunaway said. “It’s a bit tougher when you have the lead and sleep on it. I didn’t really have that nervous leader thing. I knew there were a bunch of people still with a shot at it and I would have to come out here and do work.”
Dunaway started that work early. The ILH’s top golfer birdied hole No. 1, and would add two more on the front nine. Despite gaining some separation on the leaderboard, it wasn’t until a long birdie putt on the 145-yard par-3 15th hole that Dunaway finally got comfortable.
“After that I knew it was mine to win or lose,” he said.
Loaded with leis, Dunaway received a slew of high-fives and hugs as he got back to the clubhouse — an exhibition of the camaraderie built through junior golf.
“These guys are some of my best friends,” Dunaway said. “All of the Moanalua team practices with us almost everyday after school. A lot of us travel together for junior golf too. While we were wearing different colors today, I’m glad I got to share it with them.”