FRISCO, Texas — Waiakea High School’s boys golf team made history today, placing fifth at its first-ever trip to the PGA High School Golf National Invitational.
The invitational took place across three courses — two of which are championship courses — at the brand-new PGA Frisco campus.
According to WHS head coach Alika Toledo, this was the first time that a Waiakea team has ever attended a national competition. The Warriors qualified for the tournament after winning the HHSAA Championship in May.
This was also the first time that a team from Hawaii has placed among the invitational’s top-five. The tournament was launched in 2019 — and since then, teams from Hawaii have only attended twice. Last year, Maui Prep attended and tied for No. 25 with Colorado’s team.
The three-day, 50-team, 312-golfer tournament saw the Warriors — graduating senior Dysen Park, incoming senior Ryder Ng, incoming senior Noah Otani and incoming sophomore Jake Otani — collectively card 315 in the first round, 292 on the second and 306 on the third to gross 913 (+49).
Waiakea’s ability to play as a team showed, as they were the only top-five team that had no players place among the top five individuals.
During the invitational, the Warriors had to battle temperatures of nearly 110 degrees and wind which reached over 20 mph.
“The boys grinded it out in tough conditions,” Toledo said earlier today. “Two of the courses were real tough. They played well — a couple meltdowns, couple breakdowns here and there — but as a whole, they did okay. They know that they could have done better, but all in all, we didn’t expect to end our season this way. We didn’t even know about this tournament.”
To the boys, the weather conditions were tough, but not too unfamiliar.
“It was just like playing out in Kona,” Noah Otani said. “The heat was just a little bit more. I didn’t think the winds were that bad.”
“It gets hot in Hawaii, but not as hot,” Park added. “Kinda windy, but that’s kind of what we’re used to at home playing at Waikoloa. We grew up playing in the wind. It was definitely a good challenge.”
Though grateful for the experience, the Warriors were still not fully satisfied with their performance. After all, it was their lack of complacency which drove them to such heights in the first place.
“I’m proud of everyone for doing the best they can,” Noah Otani said, “but I know that we all could have done way better.”
Otani led the Warriors for the first two days — shooting 76 (+4) on Day One, 71 (-1) on Day Two and 76 again on the final day to gross 225. He and Park (+9, 225, R1 79, R2 72, R3 74) finished in a seven-way tie for the No. 38 rank.
Ng placed No.78 (+15, 231, R1 77, R2 76, R3 78), ahead of the younger Otani at No. 88 (+16, 232, R1 83, R2 73, R3 76).
The invitational was an unforeseen extension of Park’s senior season. Come mid-August, he will begin practice with the UH-Hilo men’s golf team — joining the Vulcans in chasing a second straight Pacific West Conference title.
“It’s a crazy feeling,” Park said. “It’s sentimental, kind of a last ride with the boys. I really just tried to enjoy it.”
While at the invitational, the boys got to bump elbows with hundreds of other golfers of their caliber — most of whom are also committed to college teams.
“I know I have the ability to compete, there’s just a couple things I need to round out,” Park said. “In every group I played in, there were guys who were D-I or D-II, I think I played with one kid who was D-III. All of the kids that were seniors were going to a college, they all could play and everyone was great. I feel like I can play with them.”
Noah Otani also aspires to play in college, and his success at tournament gave him newfound confidence.
“There’s some D-I kids going to college, and maybe I might be able to play with them soon,” he said. “I feel like I can do way better next year. I just need to train to play for three days in the heat while I’m fatigued.”
This was the Warriors’ second long-distance trip for a competition since going to Kauai for states, and it exhausted what was left of their funds. Toledo said that the trip to Texas was greatly supported by the boys’ families and friends.
“Our community is always so supportive for us,” he said. “It was a pretty penny just to get here. Some of it had to come out of the parents’ pockets, but the fundraiser we have every year paid a little part. The people who support us are so key, and really, our success has a lot to do with their support for us.”
Placing fifth has given Waiakea an automatic berth in next year’s tournament, regardless of how they perform at the 2024 HHSAA Championship.
Ng and Noah Otani will continue to compete this summer, as they were selected to represent Hawaii at the Eddie Hogan Cup — an invitation-only, national tournament slated for Aug. 13 in Portland, Ore.
First place at the PGA nationals went to Georgia’s Rivers Academy, which grossed 879 (+15, R1 287, R2 291, R3 301). Georgia’s second entry, Milton HS, placed second at 885 (+21, R1 280, R2 294, R3 311).
California’s De La Salle placed third (893, +29, R1 283, R2 295, R3 315), and Virginia’s Collegiate School placed fourth (894, +30, R1 312, R2 291, R3 291).
Charles Beeson of Rivers Academy placed first as an individual — carding 70, 71 and 70 again for a gross of 211 (-5). His teammate — Nicholas Cantino — placed second, grossing 212 (-4).
