Golfers from South Korea, Okinawa will get rare chance to play each other

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — No, there’s still no Far East tournament for golfers on Okinawa and Korea — yet. But they’re looking at staging the next-best thing come early next month.

For the first time, all three DODEA-Korea golf teams, from Daegu, Osan and Humphreys, are slated to visit Kadena and Kubasaki on Oct. 3, at Kadena’s Banyan Tree Golf Course.

And Okinawa players say they’re already excited at the prospect.

“One hundred percent,” said sophomore Asa Nguyen of Kubasaki. “This will be the first time we’re playing Humphreys. We’ve only played against Kadena and Osan, so it’s going to be good.”

Golf season on Okinawa and in Korea began earlier this month. DODEA-Korea teams engage in match-play events at Daegu’s Evergreen golf club, Osan’s Lakes and Humphreys’ River Bend golf course. The league finals are scheduled for Oct. 21 at the Lakes at Osan.

Kadena and Kubasaki play modified Stableford scoring system competitions at Taiyo Golf Course in Gushikawa and Kadena’s Banyan Tree and the par-3 Chibana golf courses. Their season ends with the island championship Oct. 8, again at Banyan Tree.

“I always wished there was one,” Daegu senior Ben Martinez said of there not being a Far East. “It is what it is. Can’t do anything about it. I hope there will be one in the future.”

For that to happen, DODEA schools in Japan would need to join the fall season. Only three DODEA-Japan schools, Yokota, Zama and Robert D. Edgren, have courses on their respective bases or close by; Nile C. Kinnick, Matthew C. Perry and E.J. King do not.

South Korea

Martinez is joined by what could be described as Warriors “super sophomores,” Matthew Gonyer, Jenna Jung and Sophia Peace.

Osan has two boys golfers, Daniel Choi and Joshua Purvis, “who are going to make some noise,” Cougars coach Sung Plourde said. “I have two ready to compete, and the rest are learning.”

Humphreys, naturally, has the most golfers on its roster, given its enrollment. Coach Nicole Tyler has 16 on the team, including seven returners.

Sophie West, a senior, is back along with juniors Katelyn Monahan and Elizabeth Barker, each in their third year on the team. Sophomore Zoe Kang is in her second year.

For the boys, Kalin Hansen, a junior, is in his third season, while sophomores Ethan Scott and Brayden Borjas are in their second.

“Lots of talent on the team this year,” Tyler said. “Incoming new players are experienced and have great potential. If they stay for the next few years, we will be able to develop and build a really strong team.”

Okinawa

Under new coach Gabriell Horton, the Dragons have Nguyen, a youngster who is not new to golf, along with senior team captain Caroline Johnson.

Kadena has a deep boys roster, including seniors Kai Redden, Evyn Sorenson and Lorenzo Morales, plus sophomores Aaron Wilson and Liam Stall. The girls lineup includes juniors Miya Luke and Emilie Yates.