Four years ago, Bryden Salvador thought he had all the time in the world. Now, he’s trying to soak in as much as possible before his college career ends.
“I’m trying to take it in slow to be honest. It just happened so quick. When I first started here, I was like, ‘I have four years ahead of me. I’m playing my first tournament here.’ Now that it’s come to this point in time, I’m just like, ‘Where did the time go?’” Salvador said. “I’m trying to take in everything around me slowly. Just trying to let it sink in and just trying to enjoy it while it lasts. Once this tournament is over, it’s done, and I’ll just look back at it as a memory.”
Salvador, a senior at the University of Hawaii and a Kapaa High School alumnus, returned to his home island to compete in the annual John A. Burns Intercollegiate men’s golf tournament at the Wailua Golf Course — the course that he grew up on.
He’s focused on his play during the tournament, but as he walks on the Wailua course, he sometimes can’t help but think of old times.
“Each time I’m walking down a hole, I remember days when I played Jr. Golf and leading up to this point. Of course, I reminisce of all those times throughout my whole golfing career playing on this course,” Salvador said. “It’s hard not to think about it with this being one of the last chapters.”
He said there’s a bit of added pressure to play especially well when he plays at Wailua, but he tries to not let the moment be bigger than what it is.
“A little bit, but I just got to play my own game. Of course, people have expectations. Everybody has expectations,” Salvador said. “I’ve played here before. I should be able to do well, but every day is different. I just try to play like how I normally would and try not to let outside factors affect me. I’m just trying to play my best.”
Salvador is a 2015 graduate of Kapaa High. In 2014, he won the Kauai Interscholastic Federation boys golf championship and placed 13th at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state championships, according to Hawaii Athletics.
He soon after signed his letter of intent to play for UH.
“It’s unreal. I never thought I’d have the opportunity to play for UH and represent the state of Hawaii. Especially coming from Kauai, I’m more appreciative,” Salvador said. “A lot of people would kill to have an opportunity like this. For me to be able to play for the state of Hawaii, for the university and also play on my home island, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Salvador said if he could talk to his younger self from four years ago, he’d emphasize three things — hard work, discipline and time management.
But as the end of his college career nears, he looks back and thinks of all the people that have helped him get to where he is now.
“It was a long journey, but I couldn’t have done it without all those people, especially the community. I want to give thanks to all of them for supporting me,” he said. “Coming from Kauai, they always have positive comments, and they always push me to be better, especially at Wailua Golf Course. Growing up here, all the workers and staff, they know who I am and they’re always supportive. I can’t thank them enough. And for the whole golfing community, thank you for supporting golf on the island, especially high school and the University of Hawaii.”
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
