WAIKOLOA — For Makua Lani golfer Matt Rosato, Wednesday’s victory at Waikoloa Kings’ Course was the culmination of a lot of hard work on a long road to finally get to the top of the BIIF field.
Rosato — a senior who regularly finds himself in the top five in any Big Island high school tournament but never in the lead — broke that tradition by playing one of his best rounds to date in Waikoloa, shooting a 1-over-par 73 to win by four strokes.
Waiakea’s Shon Katahira followed Rosato with a 77. Two players finished with a 79, Kamehameha-Hawaii’s Kala’i Pomroy and Hilo’s Riley Kaneshiro, who all played in the first group together.
Rosato followed in the second group, so he knew right where he stood going into the club house.
The Makua Lani standout managed to earn the victory thanks to his play through the first nine holes. Rosato went 3-under on the front-9, leading the field at the turn by five strokes.
“I was 4-under through the first five holes,” Rosato said. “On the first hole I stuck (the ball) to about two feet and made the putt. On the second hole, I stuck it to about five meet and made the birdie.”
On the back-9, Rosato’s play was solid, but two double bogeys would prevent him from shooting par or better.
“I had a poor drive on 13 that put me in a bunker and did the same on an approach shot on 16,” Rosato said. “Bunkers are tough here. You have to hit a wedge out of them.”
Despite missing out on a chance to shoot par or better for the first time, Rosato was more than happy with his victory and his score.
“This is my first win and it a great experience, especially playing against some really good competition,” Rosato said. “This win means the world to me.”
Makua Lani assistant coach Alex Dong has watched Rosato grow and get stronger in the sport since his freshman year and said he is “really excited” and “super proud” of his win.
“He has always been a good golfer and usually finishes high,” Dong added. “He is mentally composed and has no nerves when he is on the course. He just keeps getting better and better.”
As for the rest of the year, Dong hopes the win will be the start of a roll that finishes with a couple more victories and a strong performance at states.
“If he can get a couple more wins under his belt, then we can see what he can do at the next level,” Dong said.
Last week’s winner, Kamehameha’s Pono Yanagi, did not play on Wednesday. Rosato finished fourth in that round with a 78.
Saludares back on track
After finishing in a tie for second place at last week’s meet, reigning two-time BIIF champion Kaley Saludares picked up the win on Wednesday at the Kings’ Course by shooting an 8-over-par 80. She edged out Waiakea teammate Tori Hironaga by two strokes. Tia Kualii, also of Waiakea, placed third with a round of 83.
For Saludares, a Waiakea junior, the round was a mental challenge more than a physical one after placing in a tie for second at the Hilo Municipal Golf Course last week, five strokes back of the leader.
“I was just taking it one shot at a time out there and I’m relieved it is over,” Saludares said. “In my last match my mental game was really off, so this time I was just trying to stay relaxed and keep everything under control.”
The victory did not come easy as Saludares who found herself trailing by one shot at the turn to Kualii, who led the field with a 40. Two other players were tied with Saludares at 41. On the back-9, after taking the lead, Saludares managed to gain a little breathing room with a birdie on the 17th hole.
“I hit a nice drive and then I had about 130-yards to the hole,” she said. “I stuck the pin and made the putt.”
After the round, Waiakea coach Sandra Goodale said that Saludares, and the rest of her team played well, but she would have liked to see scores in the 70’s, but “will take it one step at a time.”
“These competitions help the players get in the right mindset and teaches them course management,” said Goodale, who has the main focus is the team competition at States. “Kaley’s biggest challenge is her confidence. She is good, but she needs to find that confidence from within for herself.”
Another of Saludares’ teammates, Kaelyn Uchida, did not compete on Wednesday. Uchida placed first in last week’s match in Hilo.