'EWA BEACH — In Hawai'i's menehune version of the U.S. Open, scores are counted on fingers, role models are chosen on a whim, a wink and one particularly vivid swing memory, and the Hawai'i Prince Golf Club is set up more for birdies than golf's version of crash and burn.

Leave this week's U.S. Open and the U.S. Women's Open two weeks from now to pros and gifted qualifiers. Yesterday's King Auto Group Hawai'i State Junior Golf Championship for golfers 12 and under had its own style, as do the Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association champions.

Eimi Koga (77—153), who lost the 10-under title by a shot to Alexandra Kaui last year, beat Kaui by two yesterday to capture the 12-under title. The incoming Aliamanu Intermediate seventh-grader, who "kind of works for Titleist" by wearing its apparel and using its equipment, would like to emulate Karrie Webb's game.

"She's got a beautiful swing," said Koga, "and I like the way she acts when she wins. It makes me want to be like her."

Her picks for the U.S. Women's Open, however, are Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel. In that she has an ally in Allisen Corpuz, who blitzed the 10-under girls' field by 16 shots. Corpuz, a Punahou fourth-grader not quite 5 feet or 100 pounds, fired four birdies in her final-round 69.

She met Pressel at last year's Fields Open. Corpuz immediately was hooked by her game and personality, particularly after Pressel took a picture with her "even though we weren't allowed to have a camera." Pressel had a life-long follower when she signed "a lot of things" for Corpuz and her brother.

Corpuz has golfed half her life and fears nothing in the game until she gets to the green, where she has a tendency to smack her putts too hard. What makes the part of the game measured by feet rather than yards so tough?

"A putt breaks," Corpuz said. "The other shots you don't have to hit to such a small area."

Philip Delisi needed sudden death and a short putt to win the boys' 10-under title. He closed with a career-low 68 to catch Jino Sohn at 145. After grabbing a piece of gum to calm his nerves, Delisi nearly drove the green on the first playoff hole, chipped within 2 feet and closed out Sohn with birdie.

Delisi's precise short game can be traced to his fascination with Phil Mickelson, who has been known to hit flop shots over people from 10 paces. Delisi, who has been putting cross-handed for a year, is taking Mickelson at this week's U.S. Open, sore wrist or not.

Skye Inakoshi shot 3-under-par 69 to hold off a flurry of sub-par opponents and win the boys' 12-under title with 4-under 140. It is his third consecutive state championship.

A year ago, Lorens Chan defended his 12-under title here. Today, the 13-year-old is playing the Round of 16 at Manoa Cup. Inakoshi, who turns 12 next month, could have that kind of potential. He buried five birdie putts yesterday, the longest from 14 feet.

Inakoshi's Open pick is Tiger Woods for a simple reason: "He's the No. 1 player in the world."

Many of yesterday's participants will be at Makaha Valley today for the Optimist qualifier and Turtle Bay next week for the Junior World qualifier.

The 12-and-unders played Prince's B and C nines at approximately 5,200 yards and the 10-and-unders at 4,400. The HSJGA will hold its state championship for those 13 to 18 on July 9 and 10 at Hokuli'a on the Big Island.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.