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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, July 22, 2001

Isle File
Granders Team wins Pro-Am Billfish event

Advertiser Staff

The Granders Billfish Team, led by angler Don Hilton's two catches, won the 24th Hawaiian International Pro-Am Billfish Tournament that concluded yesterday in waters off Kailua-Kona.

Granders amassed 942 points to win this warm-up event to the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, Aug. 11-18.

Kona Game Fishing Club, led by angler David Zerfoss' three catches, finished second with 629.5 points and Hinano Billfishing Team took third.

Over the three days of fishing, 10 Pacific blue marlin were tagged and released.

• • •

SAILING — Kaimiloa leads: Despite winds whipping to 30 knots off Koko Head, David Nottage's Kaimiloa finished in the top of the PH-1 class for the second straight day in the fifth annual Asahi Super Cup Yacht Races.

Kaimiloa beat Team Desse Osaka aboard Skip Winterbottom's Lidgard 35 Desperado by just 47 seconds on corrected time in the 14-mile race from Waikiki to Koko Head and back.

The battle is even tighter in the PH-2 class as Team Constellation aboard Hoionanea and Team Naomi aboard Kurrewa share first place entering today's final races — over a triangle course and a windward/leeward course.

Backbreaker continues to lead the smallest class — the 24-foot Melges.

• • •

SURFING — Sutton pulls off upset: Shawn Sutton of 'Ewa Beach upset Kaua'i's Andy Irons in the third round of the Billabong Pro in 4- to 6-foot waves yesterday at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.

Sutton advanced to the fourth round by defeating Irons, 19.6 to 17.35. Sutton was ranked No. 41 on the world tour prior to yesterday; Irons was No. 5.

"When I caught my last wave, I couldn't even turn I was so nervous," said Sutton, 26. "I didn't want to blow it. I was bummed I had to surf against a friend, but jeez, I got lucky."

Two other Hawai'i surfers, defending world champion Sunny Garcia and Kalani Robb, have yet to surf their third-round heats. Shane Dorian of Kailua-Kona was eliminated.

• • •

BEACH VOLLEYBALL — Isle duo reach semifinal: Hawai'i's Stein Metzger and Kevin Wong advanced to the semifinals of a FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event yesterday in Marseille, France.

Metzger and Wong, both Punahou School graduates, beat the 12th-seeded team of Jose Loiola and Ricardo Santos of Brazil, 21-19, 19-21, 17-15, as play resumed after a day off due to strong winds.

Metzger and Wong then lost to 2000 Olympic gold medallists Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana, 21-15, 21-15, before advancing to today's semifinals by a forfeit win over Russia's Sergey Ermishin and Mikhail Kouchnerev.

• • •

MEETING — QB Club: Hawai'i Pacific basketball coach Tony Sellitto, who is retiring after next season, will be the featured speaker at tomorrow's meeting of the Honolulu Quarterback Club.

Lunch at the Pagoda International Ballroom begins at 11:30, with the program to follow at noon.

Also scheduled to speak are Jim Donovan, University of Hawai'i associate athletic director, and national riflery champion Ryan Tanoue.

For information, call 261-5143.