Kaiser golfer Malia Nam will represent Hawaii in qualifying for the LPGA’s first major tournament of the season.
Nam, the 2015 OIA champion, will compete with 39 of the world’s best female junior golfers for a spot in the ANA Inspiration beginning March 27 at Mission Hills Country Club in California.
“It is such an honor to be selected from Honolulu and playing amongst top junior golfers from all over the world,” Nam said in a release. “Qualifying for the LPGA major, the ANA Inspiration, would be an amazing experience, and it would be something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
Whether she qualifies for the tournament or not, Nam will be paired with an LPGA Legend in the final round at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course.
Nam was selected as a top qualifier from one of the gateway cities for All Nippon Airways. The winner of the ANA Junior Inspiration has made the cut in the big tournament in three of the last four years.
Punahou’s Mariel Galdiano played in the tournament last year, paired with Amy Alcott, and finished in a tie for 28th.
Nam has won all three OIA events she has entered this season and will be looking for her third state medal in May. She finished fourth last year and sixth in 2015 and is halfway to joining Jamie Yoshimura (1998-2000) as Kaiser’s only four-time state medalist.
COMMENTS