KAILUA-KONA — For many youth golfers, competing with peers in their age group can be plenty of a challenge. But for Hawaii Preparatory Academy star player Anna Sailer, she wanted more.
The German exchange student played in the 36-hole U.S. Open women’s qualifier on April 16 at the Village Course at Waikoloa, finishing with a 77 in the first 18 holes and a 79 on the back round. Sailer’s score totaled 156 (+12), placing No. 28 overall among the professionals that she went up against.
Sailer told West Hawaii Today that it was her second professional tournament across her eight years of playing — the other was in a Ladies European Tour Access Series (LETAS) tourament in Switzerland. However, she noted that the competition field was much tougher this time.
“(Playing in the qualifier) was an amazing learning experience,” Sailer said. “I’ve never been in a compeitive field with players like Anne Van Dam (Netherlands).”
While only one player and two alternates qualified for the U.S. Open from May 30 to June 2 in Lancaster, Pa. — Japan’s Yuka Nii, Van Dam (Alternate No. 1) and Japan’s Risa Murata (Alternate No. 2) — Sailer explained that she learned multiple valuable lessons to apply to her game going forward. Perhaps the most important one she took away was keeping a positive mindset when recovering from bad strokes.
“Even though I played very solid in the first round, I did have a few bad shots that got me into trouble,” Sailer said. “But reminding myself that this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience helped a lot.
“Since bad shots will occur in every round, I just have to learn how to deal with them in the best way possible.”
Sailer also noted that keeping this mindset from the qualifier will serve her well for the rest of her prep season at HPA. During this Big Island Interscholastic Federation’s (BIIF) golf season, Sailer won the individual title in the girls field with an average score of 77.1 — being the only girls golfer on the isle with an average of under 80. She will be the BIIF’s No. 1 golfer next month at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association’s (HHSAA) David S. Ishii Foundation Girls Golf Championships at Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course on Oahu.
While Sailer is only in the state for a semester, she is grateful for her playing experiences on the Big Isle, expressing that each tournament has helped her get better.
“I am excited for (the state tournament) and I will never forget the experiences I got to have and the lessons I learned,” she said. “The golf courses here are truly beautiful and in such amazing condition, and they are so much fun to play.
“My appreciation for this opportunity and the island are immense, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Ka Makani head coach Ken Zecchini is appreciative of Sailer’s presence on the island this season, explaining that she is a great player and even better person.
“Anna is patient and willing to work with the young people learning the game,” he said.
“She has excellent fundamentals, never gives up on a hole and emphasizes that golf is a game is supposed to be fun.”
Sailer will conclude her Hawaii golf career at the state tournament from May 7-8. Please see the paper in the near future to read Sailer’s and the rest of the isle’s golfers’ results.
