The course is familiar and so is much of the competition at the HHSAA girls golf tournament for Waiakea freshmen Kaley Saludares, Kaelyn Uchida and Anne Nakamoto.
They grew up playing against much of the field in junior tournaments, and even if they’ve never rubbed elbows with Mariel Galdiano, they know all about her exploits – most golfers in Hawaii have.
Back in 2011, Galdiano, then 12, became the third-youngest person to qualify for a U.S. Women’s Open. In her first two years at Punahou, she blitzed courses on Oahu and Maui in winning HHSAA titles.
States returns to the Big Island for the first time since 2011 with 18 holes Monday and Tuesday at Waikoloa Kings’ Resort.