LIHUE — For the first time in 20 years, Waiakea High School’s boys golf team won the HHSAA State Team Championship, carding 614 to defeat 2022 champion Maui Prep by six strokes on Friday at Wailua Golf Course.
The Warriors shot 307 in both Round One and Round Two, and while Maui Prep won the second round by two strokes, it failed to make up for its first round gross of 315 — and its total gross came in at 620.
All of Waiakea’s big four — junior Ryder Ng, senior two-time BIIF Individual Champion Dysen Park, junior Noah Otani and freshman Jake Otani — notched top-20 placements, three of them in the top 10.
“The boys feel good,” head coach Alika Toledo said. “We came here to finish what we started in February. It’s a better feeling as a coach than as a player. When you’re young, you kind of take things for granted. After 11 years of being a coach, and not being able to bring one home for the school that you graduated from, that has something to do with it.”
Ng tied for second place in Round Two with Seabury Hall’s Tyler Loree, shooting an even 72 for a total gross of 150, landing him in third place overall after carding 78 (+6) in Round One.
“Ryder played real tough,” Toledo said, “real solid. He was our first one out on the course in the morning. Ryder really set the pace, to say the least.”
Dane Watanabi of ‘Iolani High School became the HHSAA individual champion, shooting 74 (+2) in the first round and 68 (-4) in the second for a total gross of 142.
Park (+8, 77, 75, 152) finished close behind his teammate in fifth place, Noah Otani (+10, 75, 79, 154) placed ninth and Jake Otani (+14, 77, 81, 158) placed No. 20. Waiakea’s other underclassman, Mike Lopez (+42, 88, 98, 186), brought up the rear for the Warriors at No. 79.
Winning state was Toledo’s goal since last year, when the Warriors finished in fifth place at the state tourney — which was held on Maui.
This year, the Warriors arrived early to Kauai to practice ahead of the tournament — in an effort to boost their chance of taking the state title.
“The boys didn’t just win this for themselves,” he said. “I told them, ‘You’re doing this for your school, your families and your community.’ Our supporters were a big part of this. Our fundraiser tournament helped us pay for this trip out here.”
This year was Kealakehe High School’s first time competing as a team since 2009, and it placed fifth — carding 336 in the first round and 324 in the second to gross a total of 660 (+84). In its last championship appearance, Kealakehe placed ninth out out of 13 teams.
This year, the Waveriders were led by BIIF Individual Runner-up Kevin Yamashita (+13, 82, 75, 157) — who placed No.16.
Teammate Xander Broderson (+20, 85, 79, 164) placed No. 34, followed by No. 44 Austin Rabenneck (+24, 82, 86, 168), No. 49 Noah Okazaki (+27, 87, 84, 171) and No. 81 Tristin LaFlamme (+43, 95, 92, 187).
Hilo High School had three representatives — No. 40 Tyler Maag (+22, 86, 80, 166), No. 51 Darrell Ramos Jr. (+28, 89, 83, 172) and No. 63 Iakona Manuia (+35, 90, 89, 179).
Two Hawaii Prep golfers competed — No. 58 Matty Inaba (+32, 86, 90, 176) and No. 83 Parker Smithson (+44, 96, 92, 188).
This year marks Waiakea High’s 12th boys team championship title, and 16th team championship title when including girls.
Forty years ago, Wailua was the site of WHS’ first team championship victory. One year later, Toledo became the HHSAA individual champion and led the Warriors to a second straight team championship at Keauhou Golf Course in Kona.
Ninety-six individual golfers and 10 teams took part in this year’s state championship.
Final team standings
1. Waiakea High School 307, 307, 614
2. Maui Prep 315, 305, 620
3. Moanalua 318, 321, 639
4. Punahou 324, 321, 645
5. Kealakehe 336, 324, 660
6. Hawaii Baptist Academy 326, 335, 661
7. Kalani 353, 353, 706
T8. Kalaheo 360, 353, 713
T8. Mililani 365, 348, 713
10. Island School 368, 355, 723