Punahou’s Kiyuam takes 1-shot lead at state boys golf
Familiarity breeds contempt for some, but familiarity with Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course earned Bret Kiyuna the lead after one round of the David Ishii/HHSAA Boys Golf State Championships on Tuesday. The Punahou sophomore was in the final group, arguably facing the most unpredictable gusts at Mokapu, where swirling winds are the norm. Winds were regularly 13 mph, with occasional blowouts of 25 mph.
It was much windier on Tuesday than it was for the girls state championships last week. Kiyuna carded a par 72, edging Kealakehe senior Malakai Akeo, who posted a 1-over 73. A group of three were 2 over: St.
Joseph freshman Leo Saito, Braylon Yamada of Maryknoll and Ryder Obrero-Ueno of Island Pacific. Kiyuna wore his white American Junior Golf Association hat through the ups and downs of round one. “I usually play pretty good with this hat,” he said.
“I feel good, but I’m a little nervous. I played kind of good today, but I still definitely left some shots out there. Hopefully, I can fix that tomorrow.
” Kaneohe Klipper, he noted, is his “home course,” though his family lives in Honolulu. “I play here every week, pretty much. It’s the best practice facility with the chipping green,” he said.