At 15, O‘ahu’s Tadd Fujikawa has the maturity of Ron Agor and the mind of Tiger Woods. On Monday, the Moanalua High School freshman did the unthinkable by taking down golfers old enough to be his grandfather. But he wasn’t
At 15, O‘ahu’s Tadd Fujikawa has the maturity of Ron Agor and the mind of Tiger Woods.
On Monday, the Moanalua High School freshman did the unthinkable by taking down golfers old enough to be his grandfather.
But he wasn’t phased by the opportunity to be the youngest U.S. Open competitor since 1941.
What really impressed me about the teen golf phenom was his consistency on the course.
Fujikawa approached every shot the same way. He lined up putts the same way, every time. His emotions were bottled up and sent across the Pacific Ocean.
The gallery at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course consisted of more Fujikawas than chickens.
I tagged along at the start of the fourth hole in round two, where Fujikawa was making the move towards the top of the field.
Down by just a shot after the first round, Fujikawa buckled down and tore up Po‘ipu Bay like he was Tiger at a Grand Slam of Golf tournament.
When Fujikawa made the turn to the back nine, the buzz was already going around about how he might have a shot at winning the sectional, which was amongst a field of mostly club professionals.
His mom, Lori, who walked all 36 holes along with her son, asked me during the 16th hole if he was ahead.
She knew what was about to happen and so did his grandfather, who said he’s amazed everybtime he watches his grandson play.
“My own game gets better just by watching him,” he said. “His command of this game at such a young age is remarkable.”
And when Fujikawa sailed his tee shot into the drink on the par 3, 11th hole, his grandfather and mother looked worried, but not Tadd, who, along with his caddy and coach Kevin Ralbovsky, went along with their business.
Nothing rattled the 5’1” O‘ahu Junior Golfer, who got into the game just four years ago.
“I don’t golf and his father doesn’t either,” Lori said. “We did put up a golf net in our backyard and he just started hitting balls and the next thing you know, he’s hooked on it.”
Most youths at his age are enjoying the time off from school and heading to the beach to catch some waves.
But not Fujikawa, who’ll kick off his most memorable summer in Mamaroneck, N.Y. next week. The closest he’ll get to sand in the coming week is at a bunker at the Winged Foot Golf Club for the U.S. Open.
But the beaches can wait.
Monday was supposed to be a big day for Michelle Wie, another O‘ahu teenager, but while everyone was paying close attention to the 6’1” girl, a golfer a foot smaller than her, five time zones away, was lighting his own light, which led him to an appearance at the 2006 U.S. Open.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” Fujikawa said with a smile after the event.
The soft-spoken individual won’t be left out when he heads up to play against the pros, because to him, golf is the same, no matter how old you are.
• Duane Shimogawa Jr., sports editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kauaisports@kauaipubco.com.
