ISLE FILE
Kaua'i's Irons surfs closer to World Tour crown
Advertiser Staff
Kaua'i's Andy Irons was in near-perfect form in the first round of the Mundial Coca-Cola de Surf yesterday at Itauna Beach, Saquarema, Brazil.
The opening day of the contest was held in barreling 6-foot waves.
Irons opened his heat with a perfect 10 for a long barrel ride, and then followed that with a 9.5 for another impressive barrel ride. "It kind of just turned on for my heat," he said. "I didn't think I'd be catching waves like that here."
Irons is ranked No. 1 on surfing's World Championship Tour, and he could clinch the world title with a victory this week (his closest competitors would also need to be eliminated early).
Shane Dorian of the Big Island also won his first-round heat.
Irons and Dorian are the only Hawai'i surfers in the contest. Sunny Garcia is injured and Kalani Robb did not enter.
GOLF
PCC's Carll seven behind: Honolulu's Kevin Carll shot a 75 (35-40), placing him in the middle of the pack and seven strokes behind leader Kyle Flinton of Oklahoma after yesterday's opening round of the 26th edition of the PGA of America's national championship for assistant and apprentice professionals at the PGA's Golf Club, South Course in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
COLLEGIATE SOCCER
UH seeks tourney berth: Victories over the Western Athletic Conference's two last-place teams this weekend will guarantee the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine soccer team a spot in the league's championship tournament for the second year in a row.
Hawai'i is 2-2 in the WAC. Boise State, tonight's opponent, and Sunday foe Nevada are both 1-4.
Both games will be at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium, starting at 7 tonight and 5 p.m. Sunday.
Six of the WAC's nine teams go to the tournament Nov. 7-9 in Houston and the Rainbows will guarantee themselves no lower than a sixth-place finish with a sweep this weekend in their final home games of the season.
Hawai'i would finish as high as third place — and get a better seed in the tournament — if they also win their final two regular-season games next weekend at San Jose State and Fresno State.
Fresno State's 3-2 victory over San Jose State last night strengthened Hawai'i's position, dropping the Spartans to 1-4-2. Kaiser High grad Erin Sayegusa scored Fresno State's winning goal for the second game in a row.
Sunday will be the final home game for UH seniors Wanette Miyashiro, Noelle Takemoto, Jennifer Churchill and Erin Quattromani.
The WAC standings, including last night:
1, SMU 4-0-1. 2, UTEP 4-1-0. 3, Fresno State 5-2. 4, Tulsa 2-1-1. 5, Hawai'i 2-2. 6, San Jose State 1-4-2. 7, Boise State 1-4 and Nevada 1-4.
VOLLEYBALL
Block Party: The University of Hawai'i Warriors, the defending national volleyball champions, have announced the rosters for tomorrow night's "Block Party" intersquad match.
The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The White team will be headed by assistant coach Tino Reyes, along with a guest coach from 104.3 Xtreme radio station.
Coaching the Black team is assistant coach Aaron Wilton and a guest coach from Honolulu radio station FM-100.
Tickets are $5 for general admission, $3 for senior citizens and students, and $1 for UH students with a valid ID.
Rosters
White Team: Kimo Tuyay, Eyal Zimet, Eric Kalima, Arri Jeschke, Tony Ching, Matt Motter, Dio Dante, Delano Thomas.
Black Team: Pedro Azenha, Jake Muise, Jose Delgado, Costas Theocharidis, Matt Bender, Ryan Woodward, Daniel Rasay, Joshua Stanheiser.
