Posted on: Monday, June 25, 2001

Wong, Metzger capture pro beach tourney

Advertiser Staff

Punahou School graduates Stein Metzger and Kevin Wong captured the $180,000 Swiss Open, a FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event completed yesterday in Gstaad, Switzerland.

Metzger, of Honolulu, and Wong, of Pearl City, were seeded seventh in the 32-team draw. They won the $27,000 first-place prize after defeating the second-seeded team of brothers Martin and Paul Laciga, 21-17, 22-20, in a 38-minute final.

The win was Metzger's first-ever as a pro beach player, while Wong won for the second time.

Metzger and Wong opened play yesterday with a stunning 22-20, 16-21, 15-11 upset of top seeds Emanuel Rego and Tande Ramos of Brazil. Rego, who has won a record 31 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour titles, teamed with Ramos to win last week's event in the Canary Islands.

Metzger and Wong have earned $53,700 in four pro beach events this season.