From a qualifier alternate to playing in U.S. Open, Nevada's Gabby Kano living the dream
Two weeks before a U.S. Women's Open qualifier was set to be played in Sacramento, Nevada Wolf Pack junior Gabby Kano wasn't even part of the field. But after getting bumped into the 84-player field from her alternate spot, Kano made the drive over the Sierra with her teammate's dad serving as her caddy. With no expectations, the 20-year-old went out an earned co-medalist honors at the qualifier at Del Paso Country Club, tying for the top spot with former Wolf Pack teammate, Leah John. After shooting a combined 7 under over 36 holes on one day, Kano qualified for next month's U.S. Open at Erin Hills Golf Course in Wisconsin. For her tremendous achievement, Kano is Nevada Sports Net's Wolf Pack Athlete of the Month for April.
You can watch our interview with Kano below or read the Q&A underneath that. This feature is presented in partnership with Champion Chevrolet.
Q&A with Gabby Kano
Nevada Sports Net: Has it set in that you're playing in the U.S. Open next month?
Gabby Kano: It has and it hasn't. It's been kind of funny. I've been like going back and forth with the paperwork, like pre-registration, registering for the practice rounds. I was looking at the practice round times and I saw Nelly Korda on one of them. And I was, like, "I'm going to put my name there." It's been great though. I've had so much support from family and friends back at home, my teammates, all the staff here. They surprised me when I came back the next day with signs And they're, like, 'Go G-Kano!' It was really cute, but I'm so excited. It probably won't fully set in until I actually get there.
Nevada Sports Net: The U.S. Open is going to be at Erin Hills over in Wisconsin. It's a fairly new course. It hosted the U.S. Open on the men's side a few years ago. In your qualifier, you shot a 65 and a 70. It's two rounds in one day with the top three out of more than 80 golfers advancing. You tied for first with Leah, your former teammate. You had such a great first round, that 65 was 6 under and it's the best you've ever shot in 18 holes. What was your mindset going into the second 18 because you had a nice lead but things can change quickly on a golf course?
Gabby Kano: I felt like nothing really changes. I stuck to my process and kept it the same and really maintain good breathing. When I noticed my heart rate began to rise, acknowledging that something is happening and you're in the lead, just acknowledge that you're nervous and just take time to calm down is really important because if you just ignore it you're more likely to get more nervous. I just maintained good breathing and stuck to my process and nothing changes. The reason why you're in that spot in the first place is because of your process, so there's no reason to change it.
Nevada Sports Net: You had 11 birdies on those 36 holes over one day. You were saying all the putts were falling. Why were you playing so well?
Gabby Kano: Oh, my, gosh, my caddy. My teammate's dad, Nikki (Chindavong), her dad caddied for me and he was really good at reading grain on the grains. I don't personally have a lot of experience with reading the grain. He would look at the hole and he'd tell me, "Oh, yeah, the grain's going this way." He'd tell me, "You got the line?" I was, like, "Yeah, I got it." And almost all of them went in.
Nevada Sports Net: So, is he your caddy at the U.S. Open or are you going to get someone local who maybe that course a little more?
Gabby Kano: No, I'm in the process of getting a caddy right now. I'm talking to a high school coach near Milwaukee. I'm in the process of figuring out who to choose.
Nevada Sports Net: One of your Wolf Pack teammates (Chindavong) was in the field. We mentioned Leah, your former Wolf Pack teammate, was in the field. One of your teammates was caddying in the field. Did that add some comfort? And I know you played on this course before when UC Davis hosted a tournament there. How comfortable did you feel going into the tournament?
Gabby Kano: I felt really comfortable, actually. I feel like the more college events I've played, the more comfortable I became anyways. It's just cool seeing people you know from junior golf in college events and you're just saying hi to them across the fairway. Pretty comfortable, and just having my teammate's dad on the bag and just telling me like with assurance, "The grain's going this way on the green," just made me all the more confident in my line.
Nevada Sports Net: It's a great way to end your junior season at Nevada, and you played really well at the Mountain West Championships. The team finished third. You tied for eighth. What was the breakthrough moment for you this year as you really took a step forward in your game?
Gabby Kano: I feel like it was really the fall season. I believe my scoring average was close to 72, almost under 72. I felt like I was really able to figure out not just how to score low for one round but how to continuously score low from multiple rounds at a time. It was just in that time frame where I really busted down a door I didn't think I could open.
Nevada Sports Net: Consistency is a problem for every golfer, so what was your key? What can we take from what you learned to be more consistent when we play?
Gabby Kano: Just make a routine for yourself. For me and coach Kathleen (Takaishi), she always emphasizes that we focus on short game, a lot more than long game. Of course hitting the fairway is important, but when you don't hit the green and chipping and putting, those are the key components that allow you to score. So definitely short game, hitting different ball flights for chips or pitches around the green and also putting and ensuring that your speed and your line, you're committed to it. You'd much rather hit a line that you're committed to that's wrong than hit the right line but you're not committed to.
Nevada Sports Net: What got you into golf in the first place? You're from Fullerton. Mom's a nurse, dad's an engineer. This is kind of close enough to home but not too close to home. What do you remember about your genesis in the sport and falling in love with golf?
Gabby Kano: Man, it was a while ago. How it started was my dad was at the range and I tried to grab one of his clubs, like the steel men's shaft clubs and I tried to swing it and he's, like, "No, no, no." So, he got me a plastic set. I must have been 5 or 6 or something. I don't even remember. But that was basically how I got into it. And then he was like, "Hey, you know, I think this might work if you like it." So, he signed me up for lessons and I just fell more in love with it.
Nevada Sports Net: So, 14 years after picking up those plastic clubs, you're gonna be hitting it with the best players in the world at the U.S. Open. What are you most looking forward to when you think of what's coming and getting that experience?
Gabby Kano: I'm really excited to play in Wisconsin. I haven't been to Wisconsin before to play golf. Speaking of the Open, I was looking at the Open in like the final broadcast yesterday when Brooks Koepka won (there in 2017). And I just looking at how their balls reacted on the green. How far the ball slopes down the hill past the green. I'm just excited to play a yardage that the GOATs, the pros play at. I'm nearly excited. Especially in practice rounds and maybe just looking across another fairway, seeing how the pros chip, how they putt, what do their routines look like and what does the talk between them and their caddy look like. Those are things I'm pretty excited for.
Nevada Sports Net: We'll give you some quick hitters before we let you go. Golfer you're most looking forward to seeing at the U.S. Open.?
Gabby Kano: Oh, gosh. They're a bunch. But I would have to say Nelly Korda.
Nevada Sports Net: Favorite club that you like to hit?
Gabby Kano: Ooh, that's a hard one. I would say I've been liking my putter recently.
Nevada Sports Net: Well, it got you to the U.S. Open. Longest drive?
Gabby Kano: It might be 275. That was with role, though.
Nevada Sports Net: That's fine. The role counts. You're not the tallest person, so that is very impressive to hit it that far. Favorite class that you've taken at the university.
Gabby Kano: I kind of like these two I'm in right now. There's a buyer behavior class that I'm in right know that I am interested in, and also HR. An HR management class. It's just been interesting hearing about real-world application.
Nevada Sports Net: Sport you'd be playing if not for golf.
Gabby Kano: I've been liking pickleball. We've been playing pickleball just for fun when we're out of season, but if I had to choose an Olympic sport, I would say volleyball. Just for fun. I'm not good at it at all, but it's just so fun hitting the ball.
Nevada Sports Net: Last one for you. What's your favorite thing about Reno as somebody who grew up in Southern California?
Gabby Kano: I would say the authenticity of a lot of the shops and the restaurants, especially in Midtown. I feel like it's such an authentic expression of Reno, especially the art murals on the walls. When I'm driving back to campus next to the Wal, the bar on the right, there's this painted mural on the wall by the parking lot. I really just like looking at the art like on the side of the buildings and seeing authentic expression in the restaurants or the shops and how like close-knit the community is.
Nevada Sports Net: So, your favorite restaurant in Midtown then? We might be able to get you an NIL offering or something.
Gabby Kano: Moo Dang. My teammates and I go there a lot for dinner, so I would say Moo Dang.
For previous Wolf Pack Athletes of the Month Q&As, click here
