Matsumoto helps Mililani take share of lead at girls state golf

Kady Matsumoto carded a 2-under 70 to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of the David Ishii/

HHSAA Girls Golf State Championships on Tuesday at Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course.

The Mililani senior had her best round since posting a 67 on March 16 to win an OIA regular-season tournament at Mililani Golf Course. She spent a few days at Klipper during the past week in preparation.

“It was windy in the beginning, but the course positions were good. The greens were really good,” she said. “You just take it one shot at a time. The greens were slower last week. They must’ve cut it for this tournament. They roll nicer.”

Matsumoto leads ILH champion Keelee Nogawa (73) and Samantha Monroe (73), both of Punahou.

At 74 are Alexa Takai of Punahou, Makena Yonemura of Mililani and Sacha Salem of Maui Prep.

At 75 are Khloe Nakagawa of Hawaii Prep and Lia Choi of Moanalua. Nakagawa, a sophomore, connected on a hole-in-one at No. 18.

“It was 160 (yards). I was just trying hit for the middle of the green because there were white stakes around,” Nakagawa said. “I hit a 6-iron. I just tried to make a good swing on it. I knew it was a good shot. It took a bounce a little to the left of the hole and went straight in. That’s my first hole-in-one, so I wasn’t sure and I checked with my group.”

Her parents made the trip, flying out of Kona International Airport at 6 a.m.. They caught their daughter’s back nine, including the ace.

The leaders completed their rounds roughly before noon, when a heavy downpour drenched the course and around half the field. That caused a delay of more than an hour. Otherwise, conditions were fairly pleasant, with mostly sunny skies and occasional gusts. Wind was sometimes swirling.

In team competition, only two schools had three golfers score in the 70s. Mililani and Punahou are tied at 220. The Lady Trojans’ tally includes a 76 by Mia Nakaoka.

Matsumoto was third in last week’s OIA championships.

“I’m not surprised. I know what she’s capable of doing,” Yonemura said.

Nogawa was encouraged about day one.

“It was less wind than when I practiced. I felt pretty good about today. My shots were going pretty accurate with my putts,” Nogawa said. “Going uphill, gauging the speed (on the greens) gets hard. I’m looking forward to closing out the season and hopefully I can go out there and play solid golf.”

Takai is coming off a wrist injury, a cyst on the back of her hand that led to a withdrawal from the ILH championships after one round. She showed no ill effects on Tuesday.

“I would’ve liked a score that was a little bit lower. I hit the ball really straight. Hit it really well. Hit a lot of greens. I felt like I didn’t make maybe as many putts as I should’ve,” Takai said. “I feel good. I committed to every shot out there. I set up everything right. I just didn’t make too many putts.”