Ricky Owaki is emerging as a leader. Rick Owaki is emerging as a player. And Ricky Owaki is emerging as this week's choice for Wildcat of the Week. Owaki played the best tournament of his career in last week's InterWest Wildcat Classic at Sevillano Links in Corning, shooting a 1-under par (71-73-71–215) to finish in a tie for fourth in a very talented field and earn All-Tournament honors.
But even before Owaki's breakout performance (his previous best tournament finish was a tie for 10th at last season's Coyote Classic), Head Coach T.L. Brown was raving about Owaki's emergence as a vocal leader on his very young and inexperienced team. It's safe to say that as the fall season winds down with only next week's Otter Invitational remaining, and the team begins to look ahead toward the spring season, the Wildcats will be leaning heavily on their third-year veteran for low scores and a little guidance.
The genial junior's strong finish last week was keyed by his play on the par-4s. Owaki was one of four players in the 80-member field to play the tough par-4s under par. Tied for sixth following Monday's first two rounds, Owaki was one of only nine players to go sub-par Tuesday to make a move up to fourth. He birdied three of his first eight holes, had only one bogey, and finished with five straight pars.
