Victory at Oahu Country Club

Kara Kaneshiro emerged victorious in the Manoa Cup women’s final, held at Oahu Country Club on Friday. This win marks her redemption after finishing as runner-up in last year’s tournament.

Competing against Ava Cepeda, a recent graduate from Kahuku High School, Kaneshiro secured her title by clinching the match on the 15th hole, concluding an impressive week of play.

A Quick Path to Victory

Throughout the tournament, Kaneshiro dominated her matches, never needing to play beyond the 15th hole in any of her four rounds. She achieved decisive victories, including a notable 4-and-3 win over Cepeda, after defeating Leia Chung and Brooke Asao by identical margins in her previous matches.

In the opening round, she routed Mia Hirashima with an 8-and-7 victory, showcasing her command throughout the bracket.

Handling the Pressure

Returning to the finals brought its own set of mental challenges for Kaneshiro. “It’s definitely a lot more nerves just off the bat, on the first tee,” she shared. “But I tried to just take some deep breaths, stay present, talk to my caddy (CSUN golfer and Iolani graduate Nicole Tanoue), and yeah, it was a lot of fun.”

She attributed her success to a strong short game that proved critical during the finals.

Road to the Final

The Manoa Cup has a rich history, with this year’s edition seeing Kaneshiro become its ninth champion in the women’s bracket since the category was introduced in 2016. A focus on promoting women’s golf remains a priority for Kaneshiro. “It’s great to grow the game of golf for girls, especially since this tournament’s only been around for less than ten years for women,” she stated. “It’s so awesome seeing all the generations come through and going to college on scholarships.”

Future Competitions Await

Looking ahead, Kaneshiro and Cepeda are preparing for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship qualifier set for Tuesday at Wailea Golf Club in Maui, further showcasing their dedication to the sport.