Takai rallies to capture state title and helps Punahou 3-peat

A year ago, Alexa Takai saw her dream of winning the girls golf individual state title as a freshman crumble in the final round.

This time, the Punahou sophomore rallied from a four-stroke deficit, carding a 4-under par 68 on Wednesday to capture the title at the David Ishii/HHSAA Girls Golf State Championships at Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course.

She carded a 34 on the front nine and 34 on the back. She finished the tourney at 74-68, 2 under par.

On the strength of Takai, Samantha Monroe and Keelee Nogawa, Punahou made it a three-peat with the team title. The Buffanblu carded a two-round tally of 438. OIA champion Mililani was tied with the Buffanblu after one round, and finished at 449 for runner-up honors.

Day two was generally a bit windier. One coached said No. 11 changed directions during the second round. Some golfers noted winds were still swirling, but with a little more force. It didn’t matter for Takai,.

“It was maybe a little swirlier than yesterday. It was nothing we haven’t played before,” she said.

Takai had the lowest four-score average in the ILH, then withdrew after one round of last week’s ILH championships due to a cyst on the back of her right hand.

“Just having that in the back of her head, for her to play through it, that was huge. She really turned it on since the beginning of the season,” Punahou coach Ian Parrish said. “She’s heading in the right direction and culminated it with a great round.”

Takai is Punahou’s first girls state champion since 2023, when Raya Nakao won the second of her back-to-back titles.

Monroe, a junior, was neck-and-neck with the leaders through Wednesday’s first nine holes. Monroe and Takai caught up to Mililani senior Kady Matsumoto during the front nine. At one point, Monroe led, and Takai led. Matsumoto also regained the lead for short time on the back nine.

Takai finished strong with birdies at No. 14, No. 16 and No. 17.

“When you’re that far back, you can’t really get conservative,” Takai noted. “I didn’t check the scoreboard. The coaches kind of told me.

“I kind of gave it a run on the back nine. I knew that it was really close. I was told that I was one behind at one point.”

Monroe had the misfortune of a double bogey at No. 10, and bogeys at No. 15 and No. 18. She finished at 73-74, 3 over par.

“We were both in a good area to strike. We weren’t in the leader group (after one round), so we’re not really paying attention to what others are shooting,” Monroe said. “We can really focus on ourselves. There’s a lot of solid girls out here, so stay calm and shoot our best. Today was better. It was really hot. The wind was stronger. Nos. 10 to 13 it was picking up a little bit, but other than that, the conditions were pretty good.”

Mia Nakaoka of Mililani had a first-round 76, then went par-72 on day two to place third, 4 over par. Matsumoto posted a 78 and placed fourth.