WAC women's event will be at Kapolei GC
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
The 2003 Western Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championship will be played next week at Kapolei Golf Course.
The seven teams go out at 10 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tulsa will be after its third straight conference championship. The Golden Hurricane is ranked 18th in the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index. San Jose State, at 48th, is the only other WAC team in the Top 50. Hawai'i is No. 127.
Tulsa has two players ranked in the Top 100 — Suzie Fisher at No. 53 and Julie Tvede at No. 73. Stacy Prammanasudh, the medalist for TU last year by 11 shots, is a rookie on the LPGA Tour.
Hawai'i finished last in the WAC in 2002. Rene Krause, then a sophomore, had the 'Bows' best showing, a tie for 19th at 18-over 234. This season, freshman Tara Chappell has Hawai'i's best finish — 13th at Pioneer Highlands Ranch — and is the only Rainbow Wahine with a stroke average below 80.
Tulsa's men will also try to defend their WAC title, April 28-30 at The Houstonian course in Texas. Tulsa won its first WAC title by five shots over UTEP last year at the Turtle Bay Resort.
TU sophomore David Inglis won the individual title by 10 shots. He broke WAC championship records for lowest 18-hole score (9-under 63), lowest 36-hole score (129) and lowest 54-hole score (198).
Jaime Matsumura tied for 17th for UH at 219, and Norman-Ganin Asao (220) tied for 21st. UH finished eighth out of 10.
SMU (35th), Fresno State (39th), UTEP (41st) and Tulsa (48th) are now in Golfweek's Top 50. Hawai'i is No. 162. FSU's Nick Watney is fifth individually while Inglis is 16th.
UH sophomore Kellen-Floyd Asao has the team's best finish this season, a fourth at the Wolf Pack Invitational. Junior Matt Kodama (74.56) has the team's best stroke average, followed by Asao (76.11) and junior James Beston (76.13).
The Rainbows close their regular season at the Ping Cougar Classic on April 25-26.
• Publinx entries: Entries are available for the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. Entry fee is $30 and the deadline is May 7.
Sectional Qualifying for Hawai'i will be May 24 at Wailua Golf Course on Kaua'i, and May 31 at Ala Wai Golf Course on O'ahu and Kapalua Bay Course on Maui. The national tournament is June 17-22 at Ocean Hammock Golf Club in Palm Coast, Fla.
The championship is open to female amateurs who are public course players. Call the USGA (908-234-2300) or download the entry form from the USGA web site (usga.org).
Eighteen-hole qualifiers will be held nationwide May 21-30, with spots awarded at each site to fill the championship field of 144 players.
SHORT PUTTS: Ron Castillo Jr. is the new Director of Golf at Kiahuna Golf Club. Castillo, the Aloha Section's 2002 Player of the Year, was head pro at Hapuna. ... The regional qualifier for the fourth annual U.S. Kids Golf World Championship will be June 24 at Turtle Bay Resort. Golfers between the ages of 4 and 12 are eligible. Entry deadline is June 16. The entry form is at uskidsgolf.com and Turtle Bay. Last year, Hawai'i's team finished fifth out of 79 at the tournament, annually played at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. ... The Pro Links Global Positioning System, already available on Wailea's Gold Course, has now been installed on the Blue and Emerald courses. The system provides accurate yardage between the golf cart and flagstick.
