Kanda turns in fine result

Charles Rich

Playing 36 holes of golf in one day under intense conditions can

bring out the worst for some athletes.

For La Crescenta resident Brett Kanda, it has the opposite effect.

The 17-year-old Kanda carded a two-round score of three-under-par

141 on Monday in a sectional qualifier at Yolo Fliers Country Club in

Woodland.

Kanda, who finished second behind Gilroy’s Daniel Lim (138),

automatically qualified for the 57th annual United States Junior

Amateur. The event, which will be held July 19-24 at The Olympic Club

in San Francisco, is one of 13 national championships conducted each

year by the United States Golf Assn.

It will mark the second time in three years that Kanda will

compete in the event. He participated in the 2002 rendition at the

Atlantic Athletic Club in Duluth, Ga., where he finished with a

12-over-par 152.

“I was able to make putts everywhere in the first round [Monday]

without making mistakes,” said Kanda, who will be a senior at

Flintridge Prep in the fall. “In the second round, I hit the ball

pretty well and I finished out somewhat strong.

“You can get tired after playing 36 holes in one day, but it’s

going to be good going back [to the U.S. Junior Amateur].”

Kanda, who will be one of 156 competitors in the championship,

recorded eight birdies and nine pars in the first round Monday. He

then proceeded to notch two birdies in the second round.

Kanda had St. Francis High graduate Mark Skeehan as his caddy

Monday. Skeehan helped put the Golden Knights back on the Mission

League map.

“He’s like my good-luck charm,” Kanda said. “He was my caddy at

the qualifier in 2002, but couldn’t make it to Georgia.

“Hopefully, he’ll be able to make it to San Francisco.”

Kanda said he’s learned from his experience in 2002.

“Two years ago, I was a little overwhelmed,” Kanda said. “I didn’t

go there focused as much as I needed to on the golf experience.

“I have to go [to San Francisco] and treat this like another

tournament.”

It will mark the first time that Kanda has competed on a course

that’s held a professional major event. The U.S. Olympic Club last

held the U.S. Open in 1998.