Japan Wins Asia Pacific Junior Cup

Japan successfully defended its Aaia Pacific Junior Cup crown from a year ago, defeating Team Hawai’i 17.5 to 14.5 in the ninth installment of the event, held at the Waikoloa Beach Resort Kings’ Course.

Team Hawai’i had a 4.5 to 3.5 lead after the opening round of the tournament, but Japan dominated the second round foursomes, winning five of the eight pairings outright. On the final day, Team Japan won seven of the individual matchups contested, while Team Hawai’i won six, allowing the visitors to to inch ahead a little further.

“Japan had a very talented team, equaled by Hawai’i,” said Team Hawai’i captain Mary-Bea Porter King. “For all those who play golf, some days are better than others. Japan made the shots when it counted and our young and very talented Hawai’i team never gave up. They were just out played this time.”

The Hawai’i State Junior Golf Association hosted the event, which is sponsored by Hilton Grand Vacations. Each team has 16 boys and girls between the ages of 13-18 who compete in a Ryder Cup-style format.

During the event, one boy and one girl from Team Hawai’i received a college scholarship fund. Oahu’s Spencer Dunaway, who will attend Brigham Young University, and Kauai’s Naea Oda, who has committed to Cal Poly, were this year’s recipients.

Next year’s Asia Pacific Junior Cup will be held in Japan, a first for the near decade-long event.

2015 Asia Pacific Junior Cup

Final round singles matches

Kengo Aoshima (Hawai’i) def. Yu Ozawa (Japan) – 2 up

Kyle Suppa (Hawai’i) vs. Ren Okazaki (Japan) – Halved

Sayaka Takahashi (Japan) def. Mari Nishiura (Hawai’i) – 1 up

Daisuki Kodera (Japan) def. Zackary Kaneshiro (Hawai’i) – 2 & 1

Rio Ishii (Japan) def. Zoey Akagi-Bustin (Hawai’i) – 3 & 2

Hina Arakaki (Japan) def. Aiko Leong (Hawai’i) – 6 & 4

Justin Arcano (Hawai’i) def. Kodai Aoyama (Japan) – 2 & 1

Matthew Shen (Hawai’i) def. Ryota Wakahara (Japan) – 1 up

Ayari Kohda (Japan) def. Jasmine Cabajar (Hawai’i) – 3 & 2

Justin WIlliamson (Hawai’i) def. Tatsuya Hookabe (Japan) – 2 & 1

Malia Nam (Hawai’i) def. Yumi Matsubara (Japan) – 2 up

Yumi Hiratsuka (Japan) def. Allysha Mae Mateo (Hawai’i) – 1 up

Jun Ho Won (Hawai’i) vs. Ryunosuke Sakane (Japan) – Halved

Justin Ngan (Hawai’i) vs. Jigen Serizawa (Japan) – Halved

Gaku Tsukamoto (Japan) vs. Shawn Lu (Hawai’i) – 1 up

Kyosuke Hara (Hawai’i) def. Takumi Kanaya (Japan) – 3 & 2