Kapa‘a golfer plays today for the USGA Amateur Public Links Championship by Duane Shimogawa Jr. – The Garden Island Casey Watabu was so surprised about his rise to the championship match of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship that he
Kapa‘a golfer plays today for the USGA Amateur Public Links Championship
by Duane Shimogawa Jr. – The Garden Island
Casey Watabu was so surprised about his rise to the championship match of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship that he didn’t even bring enough shirts to the event.
“I didn’t expect to make it this far,” Watabu said over the phone. “I used my caddy’s shirt.”
The 22-year-old Kapa‘a resident ousted Tim Feenstra of Lynden, Wash. in a 20-hole semifinal contest yesterday at the Golf Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash.
After the two traded pars on the 19th hole, No. 1, Feenstra ran into trouble on the 20th hole, the par-4 second, when he hit his approach shot into the rough above the green. His first chip didn’t get out of the rough and his second also failed to reach the green. He then conceded the match to Watabu, who was safely on the green.
Earlier in the day, Watabu finished off Daniel Im of Fullerton, Calif., 3 and 1 in the quarterfinals.
“I got sick before the tournament, but I just kept going,” Watabu said. “My ball striking got better. It’s pretty crazy. It hasn’t hit me yet.”
Watabu, a former University of Nevada-Reno golfer, advances to play Traverse City, Michigan’s Anthony Kim today for the championship.
“My legs are done,” Watabu said. “I’m so tired. I have nothing to lose today. That’s how I think about it. Anthony (Kim) is one of my good friends. I met him through junior golf.”
Teammate John Cassidy caddied for Watabu, which made a big difference.
“I carried my bag for the two matches and then John took over,” Watabu said. “He qualified for the tourney. He helps me out so much. It’s where he qualified and if it wasn’t for him on the bag, I probably would’ve been done. For some reason I’m still here.”
Watabu was one of 64 golfers who earned a spot in the match play event.
“All my matches have been close,” Watabu said. “I hit the ball real good. My putting decided it. I played solid.”
In yesterday’s final 18 holes,
Watabu fought back and forth with Feenstra before his opponent conceded on the second playoff hole.
“The gallery’s all around you. After awhile you just get used to it like they’re not even there,” Watabu said.
There will be two special individuals to Watabu in the gallery today.
“Yeah, my parents are coming up to watch,” he said. “That would be fun for them. I’m kinda of stoked that they’re coming up.”
As soon as his parents, Victor and Iris, found out about their son’s accomplishment, they bought airline tickets to catch a late flight last night.
“We’re very happy, very elated,” Iris said over the phone. “I had tears in my eyes. My father, Nobu Sakamoto, called me at work. I just shared it with my co-workers. I wish I was there to give him a big hug.”
Iris said she’s received support from many parents of other Kaua‘i golfers.
“They say we’ve got to go to see him,” Iris said. “I’m just so happy he made it to this point. Whatever happens today it’ll still be great. Just to get to the finals is such a big accomplishment for anybody.”
If he’s victorious today, Watabu would become the fourth Hawai‘i-born player to capture the prestigious USGA title.
“Hopefully after today, I will be a part of that,” Watabu said. “I haven’t even thought about it.”
Hawai‘i golfers and brothers Charles and Randy Barenaba won back-to-back titles in 1974 and 1975, respectively.
Randy defeated Kaua‘i’s Alan Yamamoto, 1-up in the all-Hawai‘i final.
In 1994, Lihu‘e’s Guy Yamamoto rose to the top with a 1-up win over Chris Riley, a PGA Tour member. Yamamoto played in the second-longest final match in the event’s history, finally edging Chris Riley of Big Fork, Mont. after 37 holes. He was then granted a spot in the 1995 Masters.
Along his way to the top, Yamamoto was able to slay PGA Tour giants Matt Gogel, Notah Begay and Riley.
“When I see them at tournaments like the Sony Open, they tell me I should be on the other side of the ropes,” Yamamoto said over the phone. “It was a rarity for me to win. I was in my 30s.”
Yamamoto, a 1979 Kaua‘i High School graduate, is the general manager at the Ewa Beach Golf Club.
“Anybody from Hawai‘i who does well I feel good for them,” Yamamoto said. “It makes it special that he’s a Kaua‘i High graduate. I hope he wins. For him, it’s great step forward. There’s a lot of amateur tournaments which would swing doors open for him.”
After his win, Yamamoto denied the pro ranks to tend to his family.
“Most golfers don’t have a sponsor or deep pockets to support them,” he said. “For (Michelle) Wie, it’s nice to know you don’t have worry about that. There are a lot of good public links players from Hawai‘i, I hope Casey wins it. It’s just how the ball falls.”
Yamamoto might not be the last Hawai‘i-born player to win the event, but he’s not griping about it.
“Everyone tells me ‘You’re not going to be the last guy from Hawai‘i to win,’ but I tell them I hope I’m not,” Yamamoto said.
Watabu tees off on his first 18 holes at 7:30 a.m., followed by a short lunch break and the final 18.
The winner of the event gets an invite to the following year’s Masters Tournament.
“That would be crazy, Watabu said. “That’s one tournament you’d never miss.”
Despite the big fuss about today’s final, Watabu remains light-hearted.
“I’m just going to go out there and have some fun,” he said. “I’ll just do what I’ve been doing for the last couple of days. Thats all I can do. I don’t want to get caught up in the moment.”
• Duane Shimogawa Jr., sports editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kauaisports@kauaipubco.com.
