WAIKOLOA — Entering the final day of HHSAA girls state golf championships in a three-way tie for first, Punahou junior Mariel Galdiano knew she would have to finish strong.
Galdiano embraced that challenge, shooting a 4-under-par 68, for a two-day total of 140, capturing a third consecutive individual state championship at the Kings’ Course at Waikoloa Beach Resort on Tuesday.
“It definitely did not come easily, but I have no problem being pushed,” Galdiano said. “I was a little nervous over the two days but I knew it would just be a matter of the finish. My coaches really helped me stay grounded and focused.”
She joins fellow Buffanblu alum Anna Umemura (1994, ‘95, ’97) as the tourney’s only three-time champions, and will have a chance to add a record fourth during her senior campaign. She is the first to reel off three straight titles.
Galdiano made major headway on the course’s four par-5s. She finished four under on those holes Tuesday, including an eagle early in the day on hole No. 4.
The notorious Waikoloa wind stayed at bay most of the day, but started up as Galdiano reached the final hole. With the palm trees blowing sideways, Galdiano laid up on No. 18 and knocked in a birdie putt to put an exclamation point on her third title.
“This is not a course where you can go for everything,” Galdiano said. “All season it had been pretty short and I could go for everything, so I had to be careful here and there.”
Led by Galdiano, Punahou also added to its record team title run. The Lady Buffanblu squad of Galdiano, Allisen Corpuz (74-70—144) and Aiko Leong (74-77—151) finished with a 36-hole total of 435 — 31 strokes better than second place Iolani.
The Punahou girls have won the team title eight times in the last nine years.
“The girls were real steady and that was the plan,” Punahou head coach Ed Kageyama said. “No one needed to be a hero, especially if the wind picked up. We played the high percentage shots and everything else took care of itself.”
Of the 10 BIIF golfers on the course, BIIF individual champion Kaley Saludares was the top finisher with a two-day total of 168. Further back on the leaderboard, fellow Warriors Kaelyn Uchida (87-87—174) and Anne Nakamoto (90-86—176) rounded out the Big Island’s top three finishers.
The boys state championships start Thursday at the Kings’ Course in Waikoloa, with 14 BIIF golfers in action.