Kala’i Pomroy knows all about Kamehameha’s golf history.
Kala’i Pomroy knows all about Kamehameha’s golf history.
The Warriors have never won a BIIF boys or girls team title. They’ve never had a girls league champion.
Nainoa Calip, a 2010 Kamehameha graduate, won three BIIF crowns from 2008 to ‘10. And that’s it as far as school trophy case material goes.
Pomroy and his fellow hungry Warriors could create a new chapter in school history because they’ve got quality depth, always a helpful weapon.
For the boys, there are five starters, and the top four scores count. For the girls, it’s four starters, and the top three scores count.
Pomroy, a 5-foot-11 sophomore, fired a 3-over-par 74 to claim BIIF medalist honors on Wednesday at Hilo Municipal Golf Course, edging Waiakea defending champion Trevor Hirata by a stroke.
Kamehameha captured the team race with a 330 total, far ahead of defending BIIF champ Waiakea, 341; Hilo, 394; Makua Lani, 407; and St. Joseph, 497.
Pomroy and his fellow Warriors have youth on their side. Preston Ching, a junior, was third with a 76, and sophomore John Andrade was tied for fourth with an 86, and junior Kua Manuia was 10th was a 94.
The only senior is Ahren Ah Chong, who was 13th with a 97.
Pomroy got off to a good start with a birdies on the first hole and No. 6. He had no double-bogeys, five bogeys and the rest were pars.
“The short game is the most important part,” he said. “That’s the part I practice the most.”
Last year, Hirata entered the third leg of the BIIF championships with a one-stroke lead over Pomroy, who finished nine shots behind.
Hirata also had two birdies, on holes 6 and 12. He landed in a lot of fairways, 13 of 13. But it was his putter that wasn’t in a cooperating mood.
“I hit a lot of solid shots, but I didn’t putt good,” he said. “I have to be more consistent and work on converting my putts.
“The conditions were pretty good. The wind wasn’t that bad. It’s better than rain.”
Pomroy isn’t burdened with chasing the Waiakea junior for the BIIF title. He’s got a carefree game plan.
“My goal is to play the best that I can and have fun,” Pomroy said. “That’s why I play.”
Despite his height, Pomroy never considered playing basketball or volleyball. His sister Kayla Moffett, a 2009 Kamehameha graduate, played and he followed family tradition.
“I grew up in the game,” he said. “Nobody had to push me into it. I loved the competition and being on the golf course. It’s my home away from home.”
Waiakea has been the dominant team for a long time. The public school Warriors had two nine-year BIIF title runs snapped in 2003 and in 13.
Maybe a different bunch of Warriors can shake up the BIIF history tree.
“It’ll take hard work and dedication,” Pomroy said. “I think we have a real chance as a team. We’ll be together for a while.”