Kamehameha-Hawaii’s Pono Yanagi may know Waikoloa Kings’ Course better than some of his off-island competition, but he also knows this: familiarity can breed the contempt.
The long-hitting BIIF boys champion isn’t so sure home-course advantage is in the offing for his final go-around at the HHSAA championships.
“My personal opinion is that Waikoloa Kings’ isn’t the best course that suits my game, but I try to stay positive and just play my game,” Yanagi said. “The key to playing well on this course is to play smart. There are a lot of holes where you can score, but there are also holes where you can gain strokes.”
If form holds during 18 holes of play Thursday and Friday, the Washington State-bound Yanagi will cut his score on Day 2. In each of his three state tournaments, Yanagi has shot at least three strokes better in the second round, and his final scores have steadily gone down each year as well, from a 165 as a freshman to a 154 in 2017, and last year Yanagi closed with a 71 to finish 10th at 147.
“It’s crazy how fast these four years have flown by, so I want to be able to enjoy every moment,” he said.
He’ll be joined in the 96-player field by two other former BIIF champions, Hilo’s Riley Kaneshiro and Waiakea’s Isaiah Kanno, each of whom enter Thursday after winning one regular-season tournament.
Those three headline the BIIF contingent, and each is trying to become the first Big Islander to conquer the state field since Honokaa’s Sean Maekawa in 2007.
Kealakehe’s Titan Oshura has a win under his belt as well, but Yanagi was far and away the most consistent BIIF golfer even before he carded a 3-over par 147 in the finals.
He was the medalist three times at West Hawaii courses, including a 70 on March 19 at Waikoloa, and sandwiched in between he was the low amateur at the Big Island Invitational at Makani Golf Club.
“For me, I have a game plan, and as long as I commit to my game I will have no regrets,” he said.
A Moanalua golfer has claimed the title the past three seasons, but none of them return, and Kalani’s Curtis Meares claimed the OIA title last month with a one-shot victory against Toby Baladad.
Hawaii Baptist’s Noah Koshi and Mid-Pacific Davis Lee, second and third, respectively, last season at states, are in the field, as is Maryknoll’s Peter Jung, the ILH champion and a qualifier at the PGA Tour’s Sony Open earlier this year.
Kamehameha-Maui’s Jordan Mitsumura is the MIL champ.
Also competing from the BIIF are Waiakea’s Aiden Oki, Kobey Babas, Riku Omata and Isaac Inouye, Kealakehe’s Ethan Jaehn, Kamehameha’s Dillon Ah Chong and Hilo’s Ethan Hironaga.
They probably share the same knowledge that Yanagi does regarding Waikoloa.
‘This course is definitely challenging, especially with a lot of wind,” Yanagi said.