Busy UH student teacher closes college golf career

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Melanie Matsumura has spent more time at Kaimiloa Elementary than with her University of Hawai'i golf teammates her senior year. For her, school begins at 8 a.m. Mondays and ends at 7 p.m.

Melanie Matsumura, the only senior on the Rainbow Wahine golf team, got in some practice at Ko Olina in preparation for the WAC Championship, which begins today at Red Hawk Golf Club in Sparks, Nev. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I get things done wherever things fit in," Matsumura said.

UH-Hilo golf coach Earl Tamiya helped shape Matsumura's game and game face when she worked with his junior golf program. Even then, he saw something beyond a tiny kid with a huge swing.

"She's a funny kid, a joker," Tamiya said "She's a nice girl with a good heart. She's loose as a goose, handles the good with the bad very well. She's an even-keeled person. When she doesn't do well, she can laugh."

Matsumura is the Rainbow Wahine's only senior this season. She hasn't practiced with her team all semester because she's student teaching at Kaimiloa in 'Ewa Beach. This week's WAC Championship, today through Wednesday at Red Hawk Golf Club in Sparks, Nev., will be only her third event of the year — and her final collegiate tournament.

Her presence will be sorely missed.

"She's done a great job for us, been a gem," said Rainbow Wahine coach Marga Stubblefield. "She has been our most valuable player the last four years. She is always there, does whatever is needed. She is the type of player all coaches want on their squad as an individual and a team player."

Matsumura officially introduced herself to UH by winning the state high school championship as a Waiakea senior.

She played in five tournaments as a freshman and was WAC golfer of the month when she finished second at the Rainbow Wahine Classic as a sophomore. Last year, Matsumura was the only Rainbow to play in all 10 tournaments and had two Top-20 finishes, the last at the WAC Championship.

This year, Matsumura tied for 10th with sophomore teammate Rene Krause to lift UH to its best finish (seventh) at last month's Mountain View Collegiate, and led them with a tie for 25th at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Rainbow Wahine Invitational.

That is the extent of her time on the golf course in 2002. She practices on the weekend, spending the bulk of her limited golf time working on her short game and rarely leaving the practice area.

"After playing for 14 years," said Matsumura, 21, "your game comes along."

In Matsumura's case, her game is long. She's "a measly five feet" tall, but has the grip-and-rip swing down to a science.

"She is tiny, but she can just hit it," Stubblefield said. "She winds it up and rips it. The best part of her game besides that is the mental side. She just keeps grinding, never gives up, and has a steady emotional keel. You never see good or bad on her face."

Matsumura is at her best in a stress-free environment, with no regrets or outside influences. She can find that peaceful place because she knows time — that most precious commodity this semester — is on her side.

"Overall, I feel like I've been pretty successful because I've hung in there," Matsumura said. "I've had several good finishes. My freshman year I was tied for a lead and last year I was tied for the lead. I didn't come through, but I was successful in that sense.

"I've been able to play and meet new people — some future LPGA players."

SHORT PUTTS: The WAC men's golf championship is Wednesday-Friday at Turtle Bay's Fazio Course. ... Tulsa has won the last three WAC women's championships. It set records for low round (275) and low 54-hole total (864) last year, winning by 25 strokes. ... The Golden Hurricane is led by All-American Stacy Prammanasudh, whose scoring average is 72.09. ... Hawai'i finished sixth last year. ... UH sophomore Rene Krause has Top-20 finishes in her last two events.