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Cabajar playing at Kaanapali
LAHAINA — When Jasmine Cabajar and her Portland State University women’s golf team landed on Maui on Thursday evening, their internal clocks were set past 10 p.m.
Cabajar, a two-time Maui Interscholastic League individual champion for Maui High School, is the designated restaurant chooser for the Vikings’ trip to the Anuenue Spring Break Classic this week at the Royal Kaanapali Golf Course.
She happily chose Zippy’s, and the Vikings settled in for a little local comfort food right after landing.
“We went to Zippy’s as soon as we landed,” Cabajar said. “We landed pretty late for us, so we all went to Zippy’s. It was fun.”
In the first round of the event Monday, the Vikings finished tied with host Hawaii for second at 17over-par 305, 11 strokes behind UC Davis. Cabajar shot 6-over 78 and was tied for 11th place on the individual leaderboard.
“It felt great actually, just seeing friends I haven’t seen in years, junior golfers who were way younger than me and how grown up they are and still playing golf,” Cabajar said. “It was like old times. … It felt good to play on a familiar course that I’m used to.”
UC Davis had the best three individual scores Monday — senior Madison Wood is the only player under par after a 1-under 71. She leads teammates Jackie Lucena by one and Hannah Sun by two.
“To be honest the first nine holes I felt pretty terrible,” Wood said. “I wasn’t hitting it bad per se, but I just couldn’t get comfortable over the ball, so it was kind of a grind. I was trying to give myself good looks for par. But then around 8 or 9 I started hitting the ball really well, gave myself some good looks. After that I felt way more comfortable.”
Perhaps the most significant part of the event for Portland State is the fact that it is the team’s first competitive round in more than a year, due to the COVID-19 shutdown and protocols in their home state of Oregon.
“It feels good, we were supposed to be here last year, actually playing at a different golf course, at Kapalua,” Cabajar said. “But we’re here at Kaanapali now. It’s interesting, I’m actually really happy to be back, you know, have some sun because Portland’s really off and on (weather wise).
“It feels good to be back, honestly, and play one of my home courses. It’s been a while, but it was something.”
The Vikings’ trip to the Valley Isle is a reward for Cabajar and another significant fifth-year senior, Valerie Hernandez.
“It’s more than just Jasmine, but especially Jasmine,” Portland State coach Kailin Downs said. “Her and Valerie have been hugely instrumental for our program throughout their time here and so when I thought we’d be here last year for their senior year, I ended up getting them for a bonus senior year. And really if it hadn’t been for them, we probably wouldn’t be in this tournament. I wanted to do that for them and especially for Jasmine, being able to come home and play.”
Cabajar nailed down the 2015 MIL title on the Royal Kaanapali Course on her way to MIL Player of the Year honors as a Maui High junior.
“It’s actually pretty incredible to be here right now,” she said. “I actually never thought I’d be able to come back because last year was supposed to be my last and coach has always wanted to come back to Maui and I always wanted to come back to Maui to hopefully play this tournament.
“I’m just happy to come out here and play this tournament, a chance to play at home. So, it’s incredible.”
The Vikings are starting a busy run up to their Big Sky Conference tournament — this event starts a four-tournaments-in-four-weeks stretch that ends with the Big Sky championship down the road from their campus at Arrowhead Golf Club in Molalla, Ore., April 19-21.
“More than a year, it’s crazy,” Cabajar said of the layoff between the last time she played for the Vikings. “I never thought I’d be able to come back and play college golf again, but I’m happy that we got an extra year of eligibility.”
The additional season has allowed Cabajar, a second-team All-Big Sky Conference selection in 2018-19, the chance to graduate with two bachelor’s degrees this June.
She has already finished her pre-clinical health science degree and is currently adding an applied health and fitness degree — she plans to attend physical therapy school sometime after graduation, but plans on perhaps an NCAA Tournament berth and a shot at professional golf before that.
“I’m going to try it out and see what I can do on the tour and if that doesn’t work out, I will go to PT school,” Cabajar said.
An NCAA berth for the Vikings would require a Big Sky team title.
“Oh yeah, for sure, we think about that all the time,” Cabajar said. “This team, this year, we can make it to regionals. It’s all starting here.”