KAANAPALI — The last time they played in the same tournament at the Royal Kaanapali Golf Course, Anson Cabello and Dillon Jonke were juniors in high school at the David S. Ishii Foundation/HHSAA state tournament in 2022, leading the way for their respective Maui Interscholastic League teams.

The pair, who have played together since they were 7-year-olds, were on their way then to being The Maui News MIL co-players of the year in 2022 — Cabello won the MIL individual title for Kamehameha Maui, and Jonke led his Maui Prep team to the state team title with a state runner-up individual finish.

On Thursday, the Valley Isle standouts were both back at Royal Kaanapali as freshmen playing individually in the Kaanapali Classic Collegiate, Cabello for host University of Hawaii, Jonke for Cal State Northridge.

“We grew up playing golf together,” Cabello said. “I mean, it was so cool seeing him again. We’re both the only Maui players in this field, so to see him here, that was great because we played with each other since we were little.”

Cabello had to withdraw from the 2022 state tournament after one round after he was diagnosed with COVID.

“It’s great, it’s a very familiar place for me, I love being home, so coming back here, playing a tournament, it feels really good,” Cabello said. “The last time I was here for a big event I had to withdraw, which really sucked, but I think it made me a stronger player.”

Jonke added, “It’s amazing, I’d say it’s a weird mixture of being on vacation, but also everyday being back home. The other thing is this is the first time being back home since the fire and everything. And coming back, playing for a fundraiser, it’s always so much fun. … I love being back.”

Cabello is proud to wear the tapa “H” logo on his hat and shirt.

“It’s really cool because I’m representing something bigger than myself, not just the university, but the entire state because we’re the only Division I school in the state,” Cabello said. “With that, it carries a little bit of pressure, too, because now I can’t go out there and go ‘Oh, my god’ — I can’t get really mad. Otherwise it looks bad not only for the school, but the whole state. It’s good for me to keep myself in check. I’m representing something bigger.”

While both were glad to be home, they each said they wondered at times over the last couple months if the event would be played as scheduled in the wake of the wildfire that devastated Lahaina town just down the road.

They both also understand the thought that helping the region get back up and running was a good side of the process as well. The tournament that features 20 college teams is holding fundraising efforts and there will be a free children’s golf clinic on Saturday afternoon at the Kaanapali driving range.

“My family is OK, but the stuff that happened here on August 8th was just terrible,” Cabello said. “I remember sitting in my house and then they said: ‘There’s a fire in Lahaina,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, well, there’s always fires in Lahaina, so it’ll be alright.’ But then when I heard about the families and the houses, my heart broke. It’s terrible, it’s terrible how much was lost.”

He admitted he was moved when he drove past the fire area as he and his team approached Kaanapali.

“You look at it now, it’s unrecognizable,” Cabello said. “It makes me really sad looking out at all of it, thinking what could have been, what should have been and then what you can do to help.”

He added of playing the tournament, “I think it’s helping a little bit. Obviously the people still need to heal and that’s something that I really feel for. I mean, I can’t imagine how much they’ve lost. This is a little controversial, but sometimes it doesn’t really matter how much we can bring the economy back because people have lost family members.

“I mean, there’s some people who have lost a lot of money, but you can’t replace people, so I feel for everyone here and I feel that, yes, there’s still a lot of healing that needs to be done.”

Jonke said he also had thoughts about if the event should happen immediately after the fire.

“I’d say it was double-sided, a part of me was hesitant to come because giving the locals that space, coming into the hotels when that is a place for the locals to stay — that part of me was definitely hesitant to come,” Jonke said. “The other side of it was being able to come here for a good cause and not just play a golf tournament, but actually come out here, do a fundraiser, do something that can help the community.

“I think that’s definitely the best part about it and why I want to definitely go through with this tournament.”

Cabello started his day with a double bogey on 18 in the shotgun start and was 4 over par through six holes played, but he rallied to finish with a 1-over 72 that placed him 68th in the 120-player field.

“I was actually stressing the whole round,” Cabello said. “It was weird because over every ball I didn’t know if I was going to hit it good. I was just struggling with all my clubs, it was weird.”

Jonke is tied for 114th after a 78. His reunion with Cabello was special.

“It’s fun, there’s many guys on UH that I know, that I played with in junior golf and it’s always been fun playing with those guys as a junior, but it’s even more fun playing in college,” Jonke said. “Seeing Anson for the first time today in a college tournament, it was so cool. The first comment I said was: ‘When are we never going to play together?’ Because we’ve always been there since Day 1.

“I think we were 7 years old when we first started playing and we just went at it ever since. Maui Junior Golf, Lahaina Junior Golf, Hawaii State Junior Golf, all of those. So, competing against each other since we were little kids and to see each other out here in the collegiate tournament that we both dreamed of is just so fun to see.”

UH was in the lead of the tournament well into the back nine of play before settling in at sixth place, at 11-under 273, 11 strokes behind leader Liberty.

“For us to even hang in there with Oklahoma, Georgia and Liberty, East Tennessee State, these are top-ranked teams in the country, and it’s got to be a huge boost of confidence for our guys,” UH coach Scott Simpson said. “Yeah, to be in there and our team is just getting better. We have really competitive practices and qualifying and I think it’s just making them sharper. It’s fun, I want college golf to be fun and I think our guys are having fun. Maybe not every round.”

Simpson said he is happy to bring the tournament to West Maui to perhaps help the economy get going. He had some hesitance at first as well, before talking with the Kaanapali Golf Courses officials.

“I think it’s fantastic,” he said. “After the fires, I called them up a few days after and said, ‘Well, what do you think?’ And they said, ‘Well, we can go one of two ways. Either we be sensitive to everything that’s happened and cancel the tournament, or we say it’s time to move on and people need jobs, try to make money, let’s try to bring Maui back and have the tournament.’ ”

The event has a “Birdies for Lahaina” campaign where teams and boosters can donate for every birdie made in the event, and all of the teams have donated items for a fundraising auction.

“The teams have been really supportive, they want to do what they can to help,” Simpson said.

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

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KAANAPALI CLASSIC COLLEGIATE

Thursday’s First Round

At Royal Kaanapali Course

Team standings–Liberty 262, Georgia 266, San Jose St. 269, East Tennessee St. 272, Oklahoma 272, Hawaii 273, Sacramento St. 276, North Florida 276, Boise State 277, Connecticut 280, Louisiana 280, Kansas 280, Wyoming 284, Gonzaga 285, Colorado 288, CSU Northridge 288, Denver 288, Clemson 288, Mount St. Mary’s 290, Air Force 291.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

*-playing as individual

Robbie Higgins, North Florida 63 -8

Brett Reid, Liberty 64 -7

Connor Creasy, Georgia 64 -7

Ivan Barahona, San Jose St. 64 -7

*PJ Maybank, Oklahoma 65 -6

Will King, Kansas 65 -6

Josh Ryan, Liberty 65 -6

Mats Ege, East Tennessee St. 66 -5

Isaac Simmons, Liberty 66 -5

Caleb Shetler, San Jose St. 66 -5

Ben VanWyk, Georgia 66 -5

Gabriel Smith, Sacramento St. 66 -5

Luke Kluver, Oklahoma 66 -5