Tia Kualii didn’t produce the start she wanted, but she’ll remember her finish at the Kona Country Club’s golf course.
The Waiakea junior shot an 8-over 80 to capture her first BIIF medalist victory on Tuesday, beating a pair of league champions and teammates.
In her first start, defending BIIF champion and Waiakea sophomore Mari Ebersole shot an 82 while two-time champ Kaley Saludares carded an 83.
Waiakea’s two talented freshmen, Lacey Uchida and Kailey Oki, played on the JV level. Uchida fired a 77, and Oki had an 82.
Kualii shot a 44 on the front nine and wobbled on a few holes but rebounded well on the back nine with a 36, the lowest score in the field: boys, girls or JV.
“I had a rough start. I doubled the first hole (par 4) and went out of bounds on the 6th (par 5), but after that, I calmed down and went back to the basics,” she said. “My short game really helped me, especially on the back nine. When I couldn’t get on in regulation, I could get up-and-down to save par.”
Again, the Warriors showed how deep they are. They won the BIIF team title by 48 strokes over Hilo. They didn’t need junior Jillian Mitsuda’s 85 for team scoring. (The top three scores count.)
Waiakea is 4 for 4 with two meets left. With another win next Wednesday at Mauna Lani, the Warriors would claim their fourth straight BIIF crown.
Previously, Uchida had pocketed the last three BIIF meets. And Oki shared medalist honors in the season-opener.
So, it’s good for team harmony and competitive spirit when Waiakea coach Sandra Goodale can spread the praise around.
“Tia was tense on the front nine but loosened up on the back as she gained confidence in her abilities,” Goodale said. “She’s been focused in her game, ball-striking and her putting, which paid off for the match.”
Kualii got her start in golf as an 8-year-old with her dad, Randall.
“The moment one of my uncles gave me a club it sparked my love for golf,” she said. “My biggest influence is my dad. He always has good advice for me, and he reminds me that I can achieve great things in golf, and he never stops believing in me.”
Her uncle is Tandy Kualii Jr. Google his name and he’ll be somewhere among a golf leaderboard.
“I know he’s a very smart golfer, and he’s very good with the short game,” Kualii said. “Whenever I get the chance to see him, we just talk on and on about golf, and he gives me a lot of advice on the short game.”
She doesn’t have a swing coach. But sometimes dads make the best coaches. It worked for Kris Bryant, the Chicago Cubs’ MVP, who learned his swing from his dad, Mike Bryant.
And there’s no lack of motivation to keep improving because of Waiakea’s depth. Cracking the starting four is a small achievement in itself.
“From the beginning of the season to now, my game has been improving,” Kualii said. “The depth of our team motivates me to play better and have a good mental game.”
Of course, her dad’s influence has already rubbed off with a memorable first BIIF victory.
Pono repeats
Kamehameha junior Pono Yanagi blasted a 1-over 73 to take his second straight BIIF medalist title.
He was consistent from front to back with a 37 and 36 to fend off Hilo’s Ethan Hironaga, who had a 79.
“It was a good day of golf,” Yanagi said. “It wasn’t the score I hoped for but I just had to remember the good shots.”
Despite a day of steady play, he saw room for improvement.
“My game is starting to get where I want it to be, but I’m still working on some specific things,” he said. “It’s always a work in progress. I’m enjoying the process of my career. My main thing that I am working on right now is my mental game.”
Like the girls, the Waiakea boys are 4 for 4, but Hilo offered stiff competition and was just four shots back.
Isaac Inouye was Waiakea’s top scorer with an 82, followed by Riku Omata, 87; Kobe Toledo, 88; and Scott Igawa, 95.
After Hironaga, Riley Kaneshiro was right behind with an 80, followed by Casey Kishimori, 95, and Tyler Kuanoni, 102.
The Vikings last won the BIIF championship in 2013. Waiakea seized it last season, and Kamehameha grabbed its first in 2016.
Results
Kona Country Club
Par 72
Girls individual
Tia Kualii, Waiakea, 80
Mari Ebersole, Waiakea, 82
Kaley Saludares, Waiakea, 83
Chanelle Hwang, Hilo, 83
Jillian Mitsuda, Waiakea, 85
Chloe Waters, Kamehameha, 92
Jaeda Yamasaki, Christian Liberty, 94
Ella Fischer, Konawaena, 97
Kara Nagato, Hilo, 102
Brianna Hirata, Hilo, 108
Kayla Enanoria, KSH, 109
Tabitha Tomori, KSH, 114
Taylor Bailey, Kona, 125
Team scores
Waiakea, 80-82-83—245
Hilo, 83-102-108—293
KSH, 92-109-114—315
Boys individual
Pono Yanagi, KSH, 75
Ethan Hironaga, Hilo, 79
Riley Kaneshiro, 80
Isaac Inouye, Waiakea, 82
Dillon Ah Chong, KSH, 86
Riku Omata, Waiakea, 87
Kobe Toledo, Waiakea, 88
Emmitt Alcos, Makua Lani, 91
James Kagawa, Kealakehe, 94
Scott Igawa, Waiakea, 95
Casey Kishimori, Hilo, 95
Kobe Lorenzo, Kealakehe, 95
Yuga Tsuji, HPA, 97
Deylen Nekoba, Waiakea, 98
Luke Ensey, HPA, 100
Tyler Kuanoni, Hilo, 102
Corbin Warmbier, Hilo, 103
Teague Adams, KSH, 109
Kyler Shigematsu, Honokaa, 120
Travis Chai-Andrade, KSH, 120
Haydin Pahio, KSH, 138
Zakah Murakami-Mattos, Honokaa, 192
Team scores
Waiakea, 82-87-88-95—352
Hilo, 79-80-95-102—356
KSH, 75-86-109-120—390