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Chris Salem wins Hawaii State Junior Golf Championships

By BY WALTER CHIHARA - | Jul 23, 2021

Chris Salem has qualified to play in the Michelle Wie Tournament of Champions to be held at the Emerald Course in Wailea in December.

NAPILI — Napili’s Christopher Salem is a rising star in the ranks of junior golf here in the islands.

Most recently, the 14-year-old son of Chris and Chea Salem won the Hawaii State Junior Golf Championships in a thrilling, four-hole sudden death playoff following a back and forth 36-hole tournament at Hokulia Country Club on the Big Island.

With a prior tournament victory, Christopher is now qualified for the Michelle Wie Tournament of Champions to be held at the Emerald Course in Wailea in December.

The eighth-grader at Maui Preparatory Academy in Napili has risen steadily within the ranks of the youth golf programs here on the West Side at the world-class golf courses at Kaanapali and Kapalua resorts and under the guidance of the professionals there.

His main coach is Chris Armanini, along with Ben Hongo and Joel Navarro.

Salem is an honor student at Maui Prep with a 4.0 grade point average and an accomplished piano player as well.

He enjoys all water sports, has excelled in the West Maui Youth Basketball League and also holds the rank of Shodan — first degree black belt –in the traditional martial of Shotokan Karate Do.

Showing wisdom and maturity beyond his years, Christopher stated, “There is so much positivity in the teachers and coaches here on the West Side. The sports programs in particular provide such a positive environment to learn and grow in. It is pretty spectacular!”