Local juniors, Klipstein & Isagawa, lead at Hawaiian Classic

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The Royal Kaanapali Course showed its true colors today by playing into the trade winds and offering players slick greens – and we’re not talking about the rain. <BR>With only one sub-par round by David Snyder of McAllen, TX (Boys Age 13), the Royal Course’s length and large undulating greens challenged players of all levels. Kyeton Littel-Kamimoto of Kahului, HI was the Boys 15-18 leader after day one, but playing into the light rain and wind on No. 1, Kyeton fell short on his drive and knocked it into the water to take a double bogey. <BR>Therein began the overnight leader’s day-long struggle to keep pace with Noah Klipstein of Lahaina, HI. The two players would go back and forth throughout the day with birdies and bogeys alike, but it was Noah’s birdie on the par-3 17th that evened their scores before Kyeton’s bogey on 18 would give Klipstein a one-shot lead heading onto tomorrow’s final round. <BR>Cassy Isagawa of Wailuku, HI also had a hard time dropping birdies today and posted a respectable 75. The local superstar has it on cruise control with a 14 stroke lead over Honolulu player Lisa Kang for the Girls 15-18 Age Division. Four kids remain under par for their two-day total:

  • Cassy Isagawa of Wailuku, HI (-2) Girls 15-18
  • Tyler Lipscomb of Carrollton, GA (-1) Boys Age 9
  • Everton Hawkins of Irvine, CA (-2) Boys Age 12
  • David Snyder of McAllen, TX (-5) Boys Age 13

Last night at the Welcome Reception at the Royal Lahaina Resort Luau, President of U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, Dan Van Horn commented, “Putting the event together, the hotels here at Ka’anapali, along with the cooperation of two very fine championship golf courses, have made it possible to have this event in a world-class location. This is truly something that other families will hear about and it should help the event to grow significantly in years to come.” <BR>Van Horn added, “This is a great time of year to be in Ka’anapali – many families can take advantage of spending their Christmas holidays here, while at the same time helping their kids enjoy a global experience playing golf with kids from all over the world.” All of yesterday’s leaders held their position after their second round today (except as noted with Little-Kamimoto), but they still have one more round tomorrow to clinch the championship. <BR>With the sun breaking clear this afternoon and the greens continuing to firm up, anything can happen. The top three finishers from each age division for the Hawaiian Classic will earn top status with U.S. Kids Golf, which includes an invitation to the 2011 World Championship at Pinehurst Resort and the 2011 European Championship in Scotland. <BR>Torin Dezzani of Honolulu, HI and Scott Roden of Dallas, TX both shot 40 today (par 36) on the Royal Course back nine holes to maintain their lead in the Boys 7 and Boys 8 Divisions, respectively. Wahiawa’s Zoey Akagi-Bustin shot 76 (Girls 12) and Makawao player, Kirsten Ishikawa shot 81 (Girls 13) to hold their Divisions. <BR>However, Kristeena Locke of Kahului is a fighter and with only 7 shots behind Zoey, expect these two girls to grind it out until the end tomorrow on the Kai Course, for the title in the Girls 12 Age group. <BR>For scores, third round tee times and other information visit www.uskidsgolf.com and click on the Hawaiian Classic Tournament or visit Kaanapali Golf’s Facebook page. Final Round will be hosted tomorrow on the Royal Ka’anapali and Kaanapali Kai Courses (depending on age group).

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