Isagawa captures national junior golf title

By Fred Guzman

Cassy Isagawa skipped school on Thursday. Instead of attending classes at Baldwin High, she was out playing golf – in Fort Wayne, Indiana, of all places.

Of course, she has something even better than a doctor’s note to excuse her absence. How about a big, shiny trophy after capturing the 35th Junior PGA Championship?

Trailing by two strokes going into the final round, Isagawa fired a 3-under 69, including five birdies, and finished the regulation 54 holes at 3-under 213. She then survived a sudden-death playoff showdown with Ginger Howard of Florida that lasted three holes to take the title.

Yesterday’s dramatic win in one of junior golf’s most prestigious events capped a busy and productive summer for Isagawa. The victory also earned her a spot on the US Junior Ryder Cup, which is scheduled for late next month in Scotland.

The 16-year-old from Wailuku became the first player from Maui to qualify for the team. But that accomplishment shouldn’t be surprising given Isagawa’s growing list of accomplishments – many of them packed in the last four months.

She won the state high school tournament in May, followed that up by winning her age group in the state junior championship and, just last week, she was co-medalist at the Girls Junior America’s Cup, leading Hawaii to the title in the national team competition.

Cassy Isagawa has plenty of material for her “what did you do this summer” back-to-school essay, doesn’t she.

PADDLING: Hawaiian Canoe Club will be seeking to continue its dominance of the state paddling regatta on Saturday at Keehi Lagoon in Honolulu. Hawaiian has won eight of the nine previous events, but is expected to face a stiff challenge this year from Oahu-based Lanikai.

BASEBALL: After taking a day off, Na Koa Ikaika Maui and the Edmonton Capitals resume their seven-game series tonight at Iron Maehara Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:35. Games are also scheduled for Saturday night, with a double-header set for Sunday. You can follow the action on Maui’s ESPN 550 and espn550.com.

FOOTBALL: Members of the University of Hawaii football team are on the practice field, preparing for the Sept. 2 opener against USC at Aloha Stadium. That game will be televised live nationally on ESPN. But the only way you can watch the remaining 12 football games on live TV is by subscribing to the pay per view package. Call Oceanic Time Warner Cable for additional information.

MAUI INVITATIONAL: The first-round pairings are set for this year’s edition of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. The high-profile basketball event tips off on Monday, Nov. 22, at the Lahaina Civic Center. In the top bracket, Wichita State tangles with Connecticut and Michigan State faces tournament host Chaminade. In the bottom bracket, Oklahoma meets Kentucky while Virginia challenges Washington. Semifinals are set for Tuesday, with the tournament concluding on Wednesday, Nov. 24.