ISLE FILE
Big Island's Hayes surfs way into Teahupoo event

Advertiser Staff

Conan Hayes of the Big Island earned a wildcard spot in the prestigious Billabong Pro Teahupoo by placing second in the Air Tahiti Nui VZ Trials yesterday at Teahupoo, Tahiti.

Around 50 surfers competed in the trials for the three available wildcard positions.

Alain Riou of Tahiti defeated Hayes in the final heat.

Another Tahitian, Hira Terinatoofa, placed third and took the final wildcard slot. The three wildcards will join the 45 top-ranked surfers from the World Championship Tour to complete the field for the Billabong Pro Teahupoo.

Hawai'i surfers eliminated in the trials were Bruce Irons, Tamayo Perry, Dustin Barca and Tory Barron. Hayes will join Hawai'i surfers Andy Irons, Sunny Garcia, Kalani Robb and Shane Dorian in the Billabong Pro Teahupoo, which is scheduled to begin tomorrow.

TENNIS

• HPU women to nationals: The Hawai'i Pacific University women's tennis team won four consecutive singles matches to beat No. 19 Cal-Poly Pomona, 5-4, yesterday in an NCAA Division II West Regional at the Kellogg Tennis Complex in Pomona, Calif.

With the win, the Sea Warriors (12-6) advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championships in Altamonte Springs, Fla., along with the HPU men's team and the men's and women's teams from Brigham Young University-Hawai'i. Nationals run Thursday through Sunday.

GOLF

• Carll has two-shot lead: Ko Olina's Kevin Carll shot a 7-under-par 66 — including an eagle on the fifth and five birdies on the back nine — to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the Verizon Hawai'i Hall of Fame Championship at Kapalua's Plantation Course on Maui yesterday.

Jay Taise is in second with a 5-under 68, followed by Brad Bowen and Beau Yokomoto at 70, and Kevin Hayashi at 71.

Play concludes tomorrow.