Around The Islands
Mini Profile
Kellen Watabu:
A Hole-In-One
by Mike Yoshiura
Eany-meany-miney-moe, am I a golfer… yes or no?? At aged 12, Kellen Watabu had to choose between playing baseball and golf because of a conflict in season schedules. It looks as if the 2005 Junior Golf Player of the Year made the right call. "I knew that I had a much better chance going to college as a golfer than a baseball player," said Kellen Watabu, who maintains a 3.9 grade point average, as well as a spot on the honor roll list.
We recently caught up with this 18-year-old senior, from Kauai High School, to find the secret behind his success…
- Q. What made you decide to pursue golf, rather than baseball?
- A. "I had to consider my future. Golf is a vehicle for me to go to college. I liked that golf is an individual sport, and it's on you to prove to people that you are a good player."
- Q. What are your plans for college next year?
- A. "I'm going away to the University of Reno because they just about offered me a full scholarship, and my older brother Casey is on the golf team," he says, "I'm majoring in business management because there's a lot of different things you can do with that. My goal is to someday become a professional golfer, but if not, maybe I can go into golf management. College is not going to be a walk in the park. I want to go away to meet new people, do new things, live on my own and actually see if I can make it."
- Q. Who introduced you to the game of golf, and what was the learning process like for you?
- A. "My dad gave me my first lesson when I was 4-years-old. At first I remember the ball never leaving the ground. I was almost eight when I could finally get it off the ground at will," he says, "I really learned a lot about the game from watching my brother (Casey) play."
- Q. Describe what you learned from watching Casey play?
- A. "Whenever he got mad, he'd lose it. I learned not to let my emotions get the best of me. I try to remain focus and stay in control. Golf is a mental game! All you need is one bad swing to throw everything off."
- Q. Are local golfers at a disadvantage because they don't get too many opportunities to compete in mainland tournaments?
- A. "The real competition is on the mainland. If you want to be a professional you have to go and compete in the mainland tournaments. My family can only afford to fly up there three times a year, at most. When you do compete up there you better bring you're a game, or it's going to be a waste of money."
- Q. Do you participate in any other sports at Kauai High?
- A. "I play soccer and volleyball to help me take my mind off of golf. I don't want to get burnt out stressing over golf all year round."
- Q. These days too many teens let pressure from their peers alter their lives. With that said, what extra curricular activities do you enjoy on your spare time?
- A. "It's kind of boring in Kauai! On the weekends there's not much to do but go camping or fishing. You have to stick around the good crowd because there are more opportunities to get into trouble. I have too many goals to get side tracked."
- Q. Which professional golfer would you most like to be and why?
- A. "I like Dean Wilson from Hawaii. I look up to him because he doesn't drink or smoke, and he knows exactly what it takes to be a professional."
- Q. Do you have any insight you'd like to share with the other golfers out there?
- A. "Patience and focus can be your best friend or worst enemy."
Our Transition Team would like to wish Kellen Watabu the best of luck, as he transitions on to college…stay tuned for more!!
All Photographs courtesy of the David S. Ishii Foundaiton & Eloise Hiura
