The Drive, Chip & Putt Championship (DCPC) is a development competition for girls and boys ages 7-15. Participants who advance in the qualifying matches in each age/gender category earn a spot in the National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club, which is broadcast live by the Golf Channel before the Masters Tournament. This year, not one but two players represented our beloved Big Island: Mie Funakoshi and Charlie Bourne.
For both, Hawai'i has been their home, classroom and training ground their entire lives. Although Mie’s parents encouraged her to try different sports, none of them caught her attention, except surfing. When she was 8 years old, her uncle, Justin Lee, asked if she wanted to hit some balls with a small club.
“I told him no at first. Then, when I tried it, I was surprised that I liked it. Two weeks later, I asked my mom for lessons. She didn’t know what to do, haha,” Mie says.
Charlie, on the other hand, signed up for a golf clinic at Mauna Lani when all the parks were closed during COVID. The coach there recognized his natural swing and advised him to enter a junior league. Being more accessible from his home in Waikoloa than other sports, Charlie pursued golf.
Then, at Coach Kevin Hayashi’s junior clinic in Waikoloa Village, Charlie and Mie became friends, not knowing years later they would qualify for the DCPC.
“I was really happy that I wasn’t the only one from the Big Island because everyone kept telling me that I had to represent it well, so it was nice to share that pressure with someone else,” Mie says.
Both teens value having someone from home to share the tournament’s pressure and victories, and it was the perfect scenario to put their personal convictions and philosophies to the test. “Mie is learning to have faith and accept the outcome, whether good or bad. We’ve talked a lot about being a good winner but also being a good loser. We encourage her to be humble in her wins but also to be happy for her friend’s accomplishments,” says Jamie Funakoshi, Mie’s mom. “The most important thing we have to do as her parents is remind her she should stop and celebrate the fact that she got herself to where she is and not forget to look around and enjoy the moment. It’s always important for us to make sure she is having fun and not putting too much pressure on herself. At the end of the day, golf isn’t who she is but what she does.”
Madeleine Mesa, Charlie’s mom, echoes this for healthy sportsmanship. “We have always taught Charlie that if you try your hardest and be a good person, good things will come in life, no matter if you win or lose, and I hope that is something he passes along and makes his legacy. In the beginning, it was all about spending time with family and having fun. As long as he has a passion for it and is willing to put the work in, we will do everything we can to support his dreams,” she shares.
Besides their families, multiple people have contributed to Charlie and Mie’s development at different times and in different ways. Mie thanks her current trainer, Coach John Ray Leary, who conducted mental drills during practices, helping her stay calm and positive while playing; Tia Kuali'i at Waikoloa Beach Resort Golf spent time with her on and off the course; and Kacey Coyle at Hualālai Golf who trained her physically.
Yet, other contributions have been on a more philosophical level.
“My biggest inspiration is the women’s golf team at the University of Washington,” Mie says. “They have taken me on their practice rounds at Nanea for the Stanford Invitational every year since I was eight. They taught me what a scholarship was, how to make the most of a practice round, how to read a yardage book, how to map out pin position, etc. They inspire me to love golf, do well, and understand what it means to be part of a team and support other girls in golf.”
Meanwhile, Charlie had his own group of supporters along the way. “Someone who has really mentored me is Coach Justin Lee [Mie’s uncle] from Kealakehe High School, who taught me to always practice with intent—or not practice at all. My dad is a mentor too; he taught me that the mental side of golf is what separates good players from great players, and to take every hole one shot at a time,” he says.
When asked what they would tell other Big Island athletes, Charlie and Mie agree that discipline is as important as having fun with friends and family. After all, it takes an entire community to raise a kid.
“You can accomplish big things even when you come from a small island in the middle of the ocean, and it’s even better getting to do it alongside a friend. I was really grateful to have Mie there with me,” Charlie adds.
What will the future hold for these gifted teens? Only time will tell. But we know one thing for sure: they are already making the Big Island proud.
Follow Charlie Bourne’s and Mie Funakoshi’s careers through their Instagram accounts, @charliebourne808 and @strawberrysandwedge, respectively.
“You can accomplish big things even when you come from a small island in the middle of the ocean, and it’s even better getting to do it alongside a friend."