Aikawa tries her hand in golf

From the tennis courts, to the golf course.

Former CNMI women’s tennis player Kana Aikawa has tried her luck in the sport of golf and made it to the University of Hawai`i Manoa Rainbow Wahine women’s golf team.

Aikawa, a senior at UH-Manoa, finished the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational tied for 83rd with scores of 84, 88, and 880 for a total of 260 at the Kane`ohe Klipper Golf Course in Kane`ohe, O`ahu, Hawaii.

The Rainbow Wahine finished fourth overall with a final score of 303-302-323 for a total of 928. They finished behind champion Oklahoma State University, University of Arizona, and Arizona State.

OSU won the title with scores of 291-296-293 for a 16-over-par 880 or 13 shots clear of runner up University of Arizona (286-301-306, 893). Arizona State came in third (301-293-303, 897).

Lisa Kajihara was the top individual finisher for the Rainbow Wahine, tying for ninth (77-70-78-225). Teammates Carolina Perez (75-75-84-234) and Xyra Suyetsugu (75-79-82-236) ended up in a tie for 17th and in 23rd places.

Corie Hou (76-84-79-239),tied for 33rd while Kimberley Marsden (83-78-86-247) finished tied for 67th.

Other UH players that competed were Phyllis Lai (77-77-83-237), tying for 24th, and Erin Matsuoka (82-81-84-247), tied for 67th.

Arizona’s Alison Walshe won the individual as she was the only player that finished at 3-under-par. OSU’s Pernilla Lindberg was 2-over-par to came in second while teammate Tamasin Clelland finished third after going 4-over-par.

Aikawa and the Rainbow Wahine will have spring break before competing in the Peg Bernard Invitational on April 11 and 12 in Stanford, Calif.

Aikawa, who graduated at the Northern Marianas Academy in 2003, was a tennis most valuable player and was coached by former Pacific Oceania Davis Cup team captain Jeff Race.

The 23-year-old Aikawa, who recently celebrated her birthday, was also included in the President’s list and is a former member of the CNMI Youth Congress.

The daughter of Yasuko and Kiyoshi of Tokyo, Japan, Aikawa was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada but was raised on Saipan where she honed her tennis skills. She has a brother, Kei.

In 2006, Aikawa won the gold in the women’s singles and mixed doubles with Race in the 6th Micronesian Games on Saipan, She also helped the CNMI win the women’s team bronze with Lila Mailman and Mayuko Arriola.