By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Keaau sophomore Zack Dorn and freshman Anela Dalton are novice golfers, so their best moments will be finding the silver lining in their high scores.
At the BIIF season-opening meet on March 18 at Hilo Muni, Dorn shot a 134 and finished second-to-last in a field of 26 boys.
In a field of a dozen girls, Dalton completed 18 holes with a 127 total.
Par at Hilo Muni is 71, so the two Cougars have a lot of room for improvement.
That’s the fun part.
Dorn will likely be paired with St. Joseph junior John Lindenau in upcoming BIIF meets, including the next one on Monday at the Waikoloa Kings’ Course.
Lindenau hit a wrong hole ace, and placed last with a 151. But he had a jolly good time at Hilo Muni.
His personality control button is locked on positive, so he’s a good playing partner for Dorn, who had never competed in a tournament before.
“Zack has a good swing, but little experience. Anela trailed the girls side,” Keaau coach Hunter Bishop said. “His playing partner was a great fit. His positive attitude and approach to the game helped Zack relax.
“The tournament was a big achievement for both of them. I was proud of both of them, especially Anela. Four weeks ago, she didn’t know which end of the club to use.”
Joking aside, the last time Keaau had golf was in 2004 when Sarah Sheffield was on the All-BIIF first team. She later played at Gonzaga.
“My goal is to build the program. We’re so new that few students, parents and people in the community know the program exists this year,” Bishop said.
To that end, Bishop is setting up a non-profit Friends of Cougars Golf organization to raise funds for equipment and other expenses.
Cougar tandem
Dorn was born in Colorado and raised in New Mexico, where he took golf lessons, but was never part of a program like Big Island Junior Golf.
His dad Bryan Dorn is keiki o ka aina, born and raised in Pahoa. The family (mom Amalie and two younger brothers) moved to Hawaiian Acres fives years ago.
Dorn’s dad asked Keaau athletic director Iris McGuire to start a golf team again, hoping to motivate his son.
It worked, on both ends.
“My dad got me into it,” Dorn said, smiling, because his grades turned around.
“You have to have good grades to stay in golf,” he said.
Dalton learned about the golf team from a poster on campus.
Though she never played, Dalton’s mom watches golf on TV and some of Anela’s older brothers and sisters play.
“I thought it might be a good idea,” she said. “My mom really loves golf and I thought I should play it.”
She was born on the Big Island and lives in Orchidland, where she was home-schooled for much of her early education.
She’s carrying a 4.0 grade-point average at Keaau and is planning early graduation by taking college-level courses for credit.
“Anela played some AYSO soccer growing up, but no sports that involve hitting a ball with something, so the physical effort is challenging,” Bishop said. “Anela has increased her strength and stamina in a short time and is learning to enjoy the mental approach to golf as well as the physical.”
Best prize
The last hole at Hilo Muni is nearly 400 yards, a steep uphill climb. It’s a dogleg left with a two-shelf putting green.
It was there on the par 4 18th where Dorn, after walking roughly 3 1/2 miles on the day, recorded his first par in front of his family.
Maybe a decade from now, he’ll barely remember what he shot. But no doubt, Dorn will store that last putt for par in his memory bank.
His Cougar teammate has her own priceless prize to embrace.
“It’s a real challenge, but an enjoyable challenge,” said Dalton, about learning the game of golf.
Now, mom Anjala occasionally attends practice, hitting a few ball on the course with her.
For the young Dalton, that’s a mother-daughter moment better than any low score.
