On this Thanksgiving Day, Stephanie Kono is poised — again — to fulfill all the potential we saw the moment she won the Hawaii State Women’s Match Play Championship at the tender age of 11.
She aced a par-4 that day, just in case we thought she was joking. She would go on to win pretty much every major title here, at least once, and capture four collegiate championships in three All-American years at UCLA.
She qualified for the LPGA Tour the first time she tried. It looked like she would take the more-travelled road to golf success, vastly different from Michelle Wie — a month older and one class ahead of Kono at Punahou, and now a friend and neighbor in Jupiter, Fla.
It didn’t happen and what Kono is most thankful for today are the family and friends who stuck with her through bad times and worse injuries, bringing her back for a second LPGA opportunity in 2019.
“I know that sounds cliche, but they are the reason I’ve gotten through my injuries and difficult stages in golf,” says Kono, who turns 29 Tuesday. “I definitely wouldn’t be here without them.”
This year, Kono made the cut in 14 of her 18 starts on the Symetra Tour, finishing 14th on the money list. In July, she made the Donald Ross Classic her first professional win.
Six months earlier she could barely move after suffering her third serious back injury and contemplating an end to a seven-year professional career that was full of frustration.
Earlier this month she finished in the top 40 at the new eight-round LPGA Q-Series. She got her LPGA playing privileges back for the first time since her rookie year of 2012, when she didn’t make a cut.
She later called that “a blessing because I’d never been pushed out of my comfort zone before.” Now she is seriously pushing back, and has wisdom on her side.
“The biggest thing I learned about golf is that the lows and highs never last,” Kono says. “It seems like it can go on forever when you’re not playing well, but it definitely doesn’t. I’ve become stronger because I’ve experienced so many road bumps, but every time I have, I know that better things are ahead.”
She has always been an amiable optimist, but the sweet feel of her swing returned this year — after lots of hard work — and she genuinely sensed a breakthrough. Kono “played a lot of easy, stress-free rounds,” which was a major change.
People supporting her — parents, friends and a staff that includes a coach, sports psychologist, physical therapist and trainer — stayed with her through it all.
“To be honest, I kinda doubted this would ever happen,” Kono acknowledged in July. “I had a lot of back injuries … had some bad times. But I had such a good group of people around me that kept me believing. This is unreal to me. I’m so thankful.”
Today, she is even more thankful, and about to be 29. That is old enough for her to now offer Hawaii juniors advice.
“Enjoy the moment,” Kono says. “Junior and college golf were some of the best times of my life and I wish I could go back and enjoy them without worrying so much about my score. College golf is so much fun, just enjoy it, stay in the moment and know that the friendships you create will last forever.”
