Anuenue Classic
UH hopes to gain experience
With less than a month left before the Big West Conference championship tournament, the Anuenue Spring Break Classic is crucial for the University of Hawaii women’s golf team this week at the Royal Kaanapali Golf Course.
“It’s an important event, we always love coming to Maui,” Hawaii coach Stephen Bidne said. “It’s always fun coming back to Maui.”
The event was nearly canceled due to teams hesitant to travel during the current COVID-19 conditions — at one point there were 16 teams committed, but just five are here: Hawaii, UC Davis, Portland State, UH-Hilo and Hawaii Pacific.
UH redshirt senior Zoey AkagiBustin was tied for third individually at 1-under 143 after a 69 in Tuesday’s second round — she was just two off the school record of 67.
UC Davis’ Madison Wood and Jackie Lucena were tied at the top of the leaderboard at 3-under 141.
“I felt a lot more confident in myself and I felt like I had more fun,” said Akagi-Bustin, an Iolani School graduate who started her college career at New Mexico. “I think we were smiling and laughing the whole time even when bad shots were hit. I think that really helped with just relaxing and staying calm.”
UC Davis led the team chase at 580 after a 2-under 286 Tuesday. UH was second at 596 after a 291 in the second round, just four off the school record for a team round.
In 2018 at the Kapalua Bay Course, UH was a co-team champion with Louisville, while Rainbow Wahine junior Kaci Masuda became just the sixth in school history to win an individual title.
“We’ve had some good vibes here a few years ago when we were back here and I’m glad, even with a small field because of COVID, I’m glad we were able to make things work,” Bidne said.
Bidne decided to keep the event on the schedule as a key chance to get more competitive rounds in before the conference tournament April 19-21 in Yorba Linda, Calif.
“At one point we had 16 teams committed and then about three weeks ago there was seven or eight,” Bidne said. “So, they kind of were dropping like flies, but it’s understandable with the circumstances. Even though it’s a small field, I’m glad the coaches are committed and they obviously want to come out to paradise and it’s a good event nonetheless.”
The Rainbow Wahine recently added a tournament in early April in Phoenix that is not yet posted on their schedule on the school’s athletic website. With a young team, this event takes on even more meaning.
“We have eight on our roster, only six playing right now, and we’re starting two freshmen and a sophomore as well, so it’s good experience,” Bidne said. “It’s a great experience and that’s why I didn’t want to cancel this event is to get them experience. With golf, the more times you’re in that hot seat the better you’re going to come out in the long run.”
Akagi-Bustin is glad to be right there in contention going to the final round today.
“I think we can build a lot of confidence being here,” she said. “This can show us what we need to work on going into our conference tournament. I think it’s just showing us, ‘OK, we need to tidy up here, or we’re doing really well here,’ and just give us some confidence and let us have some fun before we go out and play more.”
An individual title would be special, no matter the depth of the field. It would be AkagiBustin’s first victory as a collegian.
“That would be awesome, that would be something that I’d really look forward to,” Akagi-Bustin said. “So, hopefully we go low tomorrow again.”
Akagi-Bustin’s playing partner and teammate Hana Mirnik was tied for sixth at 6-over 150 after improving upon her firstround 77 with a 73 Tuesday.
“Today was a lot better for me, I had a lot more fun, I hit more greens and I just spent a little more time focusing on my putts,” said Mirnik, a junior from Slovenia.
Mirnik echoed the importance of this event.
“I think it’s pretty important for us,” she said. “It would prove a lot to us to play good and be more confident at the conference (tournament).”
UH freshman Monica Johnson was also tied for sixth at 150 after a 75 Tuesday.
“I feel pretty excited, I feel like I had a pretty good chance out there,” Johnson said. “I missed a couple of putts, which is a little bit of a shame — I had a double (bogey) on 17, which cost me and kind of sucks, but all in high spirits going into tomorrow.”
Wood is sleeping on at least a share of the lead for the second straight day as she seeks her first collegiate title. She shot a 2-under 70 on Tuesday after a 71 Monday.
“I feel good, I think today was a lot more consistent,” Wood said. “Yesterday I was struggling to play well. Today I was hitting it really good and I had a ton of opportunities, but I just couldn’t make them. If I just continue on the same path, I think tomorrow will be a good day.”
Maui High School graduate Jasmine Cabajar, a fifth-year senior for Portland State, fired an even-par 72 on Tuesday, six shots better than she shot in the first round.
“It was so much better of a round today,” Cabajar said. “I was actually really happy with my performance today. Couple bogeys, but overall here and there it was a good performance.”
Cabajar was tied with Johnson and Mirnik for sixth going into the final round.
“I have good confidence in myself, yesterday was just a little tough, one of those days,” Cabajar said. “It was a rough day, but today overall gave me so much confidence going into tomorrow and going on forward with the rest of our schedule.” ■