Mariel Galdiano planned to get some homework done after attending Sunday’s Jennie K. Wilson Invitational banquet as the tournament champion for consecutive years.
Some of her recent studies, in turn, contributed to three wins in just under two weeks.
Galdiano, a Punahou junior, is taking a sports psychology class taught by Buffanblu track and field coach Micah Pavich and put theory into practice on the course.
"We just read a book about being in the zone and they have a lot of golf references, so I’m able to relate," Galdiano said. "I was reading that right around states and I was, ‘Wow this was just exactly what I need.’ "
Galdiano went on to win her third consecutive title at the David S. Ishii Foundation/HHSAA State Girls Golf Championship on May 5 and four days later at Kaanapali qualified for her third U.S. Women’s Open. She then opened the 65th Jennie K. with a 7-under-par 65 on Friday and cruised to the repeat title with a 73 on Saturday and a 2-over 74 on Sunday at Mid-Pacific Country Club.
Galdiano became the sixth player to win consecutive Jennie K. titles, joining Jackie Yates (1953-54), Ramona McGuire (1958-59), Joan Damon (1961-64), Anna Umemura (1997-98) and Kristina Merkle, who accomplished the feat twice (2006-07 and 2009-10).
Galdiano’s 4-under 212 was the only red number on the leaderboard. She finished 15 shots ahead of Miyuu Goto, whose 73 was Sunday’s low round, and ‘Iolani senior Rose Huang. Maryknoll freshman Allysha Mae Mateo, 14, who played with Galdiano and Huang in the final group, came in another stroke back in her Jennie K. debut.
"I guess (repeating) was on my mind, but I just tried to play every shot one at a time," said Galdiano, who won last year’s tournament at a record 10 under.
Galdiano found that elusive zone she’d read about to open the tournament on record pace on Friday. She birdied her final three holes to shoot 30 on the back nine and matched a 65 she shot at MPCC during the high school season.
Her eight-shot lead grew to 12 on Saturday and she played the front nine on Sunday at 1 under. She overshot the green on her approach on No. 15, leading to a double bogey, the exception in an otherwise par-heavy back nine on her way to the title.
"I definitely had some nerves, but the front nine I played pretty steadily. I missed a few putts for birdie here or there," Galdiano said. "For the most part I did fine but definitely could have done better.
"Yesterday and today was a whole lot more difficult. I could really tell they rolled the greens."
Galdiano will play in Arizona next weekend in the AJGA Thunderbird International Junior in hopes of picking up points in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking. She is 30th in the latest version and is aiming for a spot in the top 25, which would give her an exemption into the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
After final exams, she has more AJGA events lined up in June and a trip to the U.S. Women’s Open awaiting in July.
"It still hasn’t clicked," Galdiano said of returning to the U.S. Open. "Probably when I get there it’ll be surreal."
Bev Kim, the 1981 Jennie K. champion, won the A Flight on Sunday. Other division winners were Ann Yoshimura (B Flight), Son Adachi (C Flight), Cris Moku (D Flight) and Lily Boulware (E Fight).
