Maui Preparatory Academy golf team members — from left, Renner Chumley, Caleb Chumley, Landon Long, Dillon Jonke and Christopher Salem — celebrate after winning the state championship. Jonke (below) came in second in the tournament held last month at Kaanapali.

NAPILI — Maui Preparatory Academy athletics continue to soar, as Na Pueo golf captured the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state championship last month at Kaanapali here on the Valley Isle. Guided by coaches Chris Armanini and Chris Salem, the upstart linksters from the Maui Prep campus at the foothills of the West Maui Mountains in Napili left no doubt at the HHSAA Championships with a 38-stroke victory.

That impressive performance caught the attention of officials of the National High School Golf Invitational and resulted in an invitation to the event that will take place July 11-13 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.

The Maui Prep team is made up of senior Caleb Chumley, junior Dillon Jonke, and freshmen Chris Salem, Renner Chumley and Landon Long, with senior Jimmy Falk as sixth man on the roster.

“This team really handles the pressure well due to their diligent training sessions in the early morning and in the evenings,” said Coach Armanini, who is a director of golf at Kaanapali.

“These boys really have a desire to become better players, as they have bought into the process. They really want to get to the next level, and they know this is the way to do it.”

“We’ll do just fine, and lessons will be learned to go into next season. We’ll learn from our mistakes, and we feel like we’re moving in the right direction. The boys deserve it, and it’s cool how everything worked out.”

Coach Armanini expressed the team’s appreciation to both Kaanapali Golf and Kapalua Golf for their cooperation in the development of the team.

He also thanked the families and Maui Prep boosters for the support given throughout the season and heading into the prestigious national competition next month.

Imua, Na Pueo golf!