Nani Yanagi and her Washington State golf teammates had a great day Tuesday, keeping a pair of titles at home at the season-opening Cougar Cup tournament.
The 2011 Waiakea graduate and Cougars junior fired a 6-under-par 71-69-70—210 total to earn her first career title, beating Portland State’s Ram Choi by three strokes.
At WSU’s Palouse Ridge Golf Club, the Cougars finished with a three-round, 3-over 867 team total in gusty conditions on the par 72 course, defeating runner-up BYU by 16 shots.
Yanagi’s 3-under 69 in the second round is a career best. Her previous low score was a 73 at the University of Hawaii’s Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational in March.
Her 2-under 70 on Wazzu’s home course was the lowest score of the third round. In tough conditions, Yanagi played as an individual, and the best score among the five Cougar starters was Lindsay Hamon’s 73.
Reached at her Pullman, Wash., residence at midafternoon, Yanagi was still processing her three consecutive under-par rounds of golf over two days.
“It was amazing. I still don’t know what’s going on,” she said. “But it all happened. I’m so shocked. It was great. Monday and (Tuesday), I played pretty good, and had solid drives. My approach overall was great, and my putting saved me a lot, and helped me get some birdies. Overall, it was great and the best it’s been for me.”
At WSU, the top scoring golfers at practice or tourneys start, with coach Kelli Kamimura rounding out the lineup with her picks.
“We have quality players on our team. Two tied at practice and four tied for third,” Yanagi said. “My other teammate and I were in the fifth spot, but she played better. Our team did great and still won. We beat the other team by 16 strokes, not including my score. The team did awesome. Either way, the tourney turned out great.”
The Cougars return to competition at the New Mexico State Invitational Oct. 6-8 at Las Cruces, N.M. Later in October, they play at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, where Yanagi will hug lifelong friend Ciera Min, a Gonzaga sophomore and 2013 Waiakea graduate.
Min tied for 25th and shot a 4-over 73-78-72—223 total at the Dick McGuire Invitational Sept. 15-16 at Albuquerque, N.M.
Meanwhile, Yanagi won’t have a lot of time to savor her first collegiate victory. That’s because every Wednesday, the elementary education major has to go to Miss Bradshaw’s class at Franklin Elementary to student teach.
One of the main things in golf is having sound course management, basically picking the right shot at the right time. It requires thoughtful patience.
Yanagi has learned that same type of patience, maybe more so than the golf course, is required in the classroom, especially for restless youngsters.
“There’s more behind teaching than what people actually think,” she said. “We have a student who can’t speak English at all, but we still have to give testing. Some students get bored because they get everything. They get distracted easily. It’s sometimes hard to manage. But I’m so into it, and I’m learning a lot from our head teacher.
“It requires patience, definitely. They’re so curious and want to know everything about you. As a teacher, Miss Bradshaw is so patient. She’ll give me five in a group, and she’ll have 30. I know I have to be patient.”