Kono wins U.S. Amateur opener

Honolulu golfer Stephanie Kono defeated Julie Yang of Phoenix, 3 and 2, in the opening round of match play yesterday at the U.S. Women's Amateur at Eugene (Ore.) Country Club. Belen Mozo of Spain ousted Honolulu's Ayaka Kaneko, winning on the 19th hole with a par. Kono, a recent Punahou graduate who will be a UCLA freshman in the fall, never trailed in her match with Yang, winning the first hole with a birdie. Kono built a 4-up lead through nine holes before Yang closed it to 2-up with wins on the 10th and 12th holes. Kono won the par-5 No. 13 with a birdie, while Yang won the par-4 No. 15 with a par. Kono won with a birdie on the par-5 No. 16 to go 3-up with two holes to go. Kono faces Jane Chin of Mission Viejo, Calif., in today's second round (of 32). Chin advanced by beating UCLA golfer Tiffany Joh, of San Diego, with a... [read full story]