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Michelle Kim was the story heading into the sa国际传媒 Junior Girls鈥� Championship at Cordova Bay Golf Course, but young, petite Akari Hayashi has stolen the show two rounds into the provincial event.
The Uplands Golf Club junior, at just 12 years of age, posted just her second ever sub-par round 鈥� this time a 2-under 71 on Wednesday to follow her opening 72 鈥� to sit at 143, four shots up on Kim, five years her elder and the favourite coming in.
Kim followed her opening 4-under 69 with a tough 5-over 78 as she struggled on the front nine on Wednesday. The two will play together today in the last group along with Euna Han of Meadow Gardens (who is six shots back) in the third of four rounds, which left Hayashi a little giddy.
鈥淚 am, actually, quite surprised because I鈥檝e never played under par before. [Tuesday] was my first time,鈥� Hayashi said of her more than steady round.
It was the best score of the day, tied by Kathrine Chan of Quilchena.
But it鈥檚 Hayashi, soon to enter Grade 8 at Selkirk Montessori School, who is leading the field of 52 players, which will be cut down to top 30 and ties after today.
鈥淢y putting wasn鈥檛 very good today. I had a lot of birdie chances. My irons were good. I think I could have shot way better,鈥� said Hayashi, who barely stands taller than her pink bag that she lugs around on her golf cart.
A victory will obviously be a tall order for the younger, less experienced golfer, who this year won the Zone 5 tournament on the same course and also competed on the Vikes Tour at Cordova Bay. It鈥檚 a track she has played a handful of times this year, which helps with familiarity.
But she admits she will be nervous.
鈥淚 really like this course, but there鈥檚 so much pressure,鈥� she said of how she will feel today playing with Kim, who she was looking forward to meeting. 鈥淢ichelle Kim, she is so good. She was four under the first day.鈥�
Hayashi also teamed up with older sister Mirai, 15, to capture the zone title at the event and the two also lead the best-ball category.
鈥淪he鈥檚 been playing really well this year and she鈥檚 been practising so much more than I have,鈥� Mirai said of Akari. 鈥淚鈥檓 definitely cheering for her.鈥�
Akari wasn鈥檛 sure how Mirai would react to trailing her sister.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know. I think she鈥檚 pressured, probably,鈥� Akari said with a giggle.
As for Kim, who is hoping to add the provincial junior crown to the Women鈥檚 Amateur title she won last week at Duncan Meadows, the soon-to-be 18-year-old wasn鈥檛 panicking.
鈥淲e鈥檝e only played two of four rounds,鈥� Kim said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 equivalent to like nine holes of the 18 we play. I鈥檓 definitely still in it. Akari is playing well and she should be rewarded, but I鈥檓 definitely still in there and I鈥檓 going to make the move.鈥�
Kim was surprised that Akari was at the top.
鈥淗onestly, I鈥檝e never heard of her, but 72-71 is really impressive and she鈥檚 obviously working at it,鈥� Kim said.
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