The winner of the Big Island Amateur does not get a jacket to wear, such as the green blazer awarded at the Masters, but if so the prevailing color would be Waiakea’s shade of blue.
The winner of the Big Island Amateur does not get a jacket to wear, such as the green blazer awarded at the Masters, but if so the prevailing color would be Waiakea’s shade of blue.
The tournament has turned into the Warriors invitational of late, and 2016 graduate Trevor Hirata continued the trend Sunday, winning the 94th amateur by a comfortable four strokes at Mauna Lani’s North Course.
Hirata, a Division I golfer at UH-Manoa as well as an aspiring doctor, used the 36 holes to jump-start his competitive juices after taking several months off to focus on his studies. He heads back to Oahu next week to start practice with the Rainbow Warriors.
“I really wasn’t thinking about winning,” Hirata said. “I was just trying to put together rounds, focus on consistency and get back into it.”
Tied with Tracy Kitamura entering the second round at 75, Hirata birdied his second hole and never trailed again, finishing with a 73. Kitamura (77) and Dick Gillette (75) finished at 152.
Playing as steady as ever at a windy course the former three-time BIIF champion knows well, it was probably only a matter of when not if Hirata would break through and win one of Hawaii’s oldest tournaments.
In his first three or four tries at the amateur, he watched fellow Waiakea golfers or alumni prevail. Dalen Yamauchi won the past two years, giving him three titles since 2010, Shon Katahira, a 2017 grad, claimed the crown in 2014, and former Warriors standout Ciera Min became the the first women’s winner in 2013.
“I didn’t really hit the ball as well as I wanted to, but my short game kind of saved me,” Hirata said. “I was able to keep it together.”
He hinted that at this stage in his career there are only so many physical variables that can impact a round, as opposed to myriad mental factors.
“We practice a lot in college,” he said. “There is only so much that can happen.
“It’s my mind-set that sometimes can be a little better. That’s why I was happy with the rounds after taking time off.”
Competing in four tournaments, all on the islands, as a freshman for Hawaii last season, Hirata averaged 77.7 strokes per round, though he didn’t travel with the squad when it competed on the mainland.
“My consistency can improve and maybe my mental game,” he said. “I like college golf a lot.”
Former Hilo High and UH-Hilo golfer Ric Yamamoto closed with a 74 and was fourth at 157, and Hilo junior Riley Kaneshiro was fifth.
Bob Marten was the senior gross winner.
As for the next wave of Waiakea contenders at the amateur, Aidan Oki shot a 167 and reigning BIIF champion Isaiah Kanno was at 171. Also, keep an eye on Dysen Park. A member of the Class of 2023, the likely future Warrior shot 168.