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Ngan’s rally falls short in Manoa Cup final

Justin Ngan speaks after receiving his runner-up trophy at the Manoa Cup on Saturday. -- KYLE SAKAMOTO photo

HONOLULU — Justin Ngan fell short in his quest for the Manoa Cup title on Saturday, but he didn’t make it easy for the guy who beat him.

Ngan birdied the 34th and 35th holes to get within one in the final at Oahu Country Club, but a wayward tee shot on the last hole ended his hopes in a 2-up loss to Joshua Sedeno of Loomis, Calif.

“I actually felt pretty good about my round today,” said Ngan, a Baldwin High School graduate and rising sophomore at the University of Hawaii. “I made a lot of putts for birdies and some clutch putts, but it kind of came in late, so that’s a bummer.”

The 36-hole final was close throughout. On the first 18, Ngan led by two after eight holes and Sedeno was up two at the end of the round. On the second 18, Ngan got to all square after 22 holes, but Sedeno took three-hole leads after the 25th and 32nd holes.

Sedeno, a junior-to-be at Alabama, birdied the 33rd, but Ngan followed with an 8-foot birdie of his own to extend the match. It was Ngan’s first birdie of the second 18. Ngan then won the 34th with a 4-foot birdie and the 35th with a 5-foot birdie.

Justin Ngan tees off on the third hole during his second 18-hole round Saturday. -- KYLE SAKAMOTO photo

“I was shaking on that putt,” Ngan said of the last birdie. “I could feel my hands shaking and I knew I had to make it. I was just like, ‘Hit it on your line, just trust it,’ and thankfully it went in.”

Ngan, who finished runner-up in the event in 2016, said he mishit his drive on the final hole that sailed right and into the parking lot. He conceded the match after Sedeno reached the green in two.

“I know it’s tough for him to sit up there and congratulate me, when he’s lost this before,” Sedeno said. “It’s his second time, but it was awesome to see him fight. It would have been great to win on 13 or 14 if someone just quit, but it just made it such a great match that he kept fighting.”

The Manoa Cup, in its 110th year, is the Hawaii state amateur match-play championship.

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