Andy Irons opened yesterday's first day of the Billabong Pro at Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa, by winning his heat and advancing to the third round.

Winners of yesterday's three-man, first-round heats qualified for the third round. Second- and third-place finishers in first-round heats move into the second round.

Hawai'i's Bruce Irons and Kalani Robb face-off against Mark Occhilupo and Shea Lopez, respectively, in round two.

Fred Patacchia joins Andy Irons in round three.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

U.S. EXITS THAILAND

The World Grand Prix ended early for the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team after a loss to Poland at the Mall Convention Center Sunday in Bangkok, Thailand.

Poland won, 25-18, 25-17, 22-25, 25-22, in the final pool-play match to drop the Americans to 4-5.

The U.S. setters were Olympians Robyn Ah Mow-Santos and Lindsey Berg, both of Hawai'i. Tayyiba Haneef and Nancy Metcalf each scored 16 points to lead the United States, which missed out on reaching the final round of the tournament for the first time since 2002.

"I think we played a bit below standard," said Team USA head coach "Jenny" Lang Ping. "We started badly. It seemed that my players looked very tired."

China (8-1), Brazil (8-1), Cuba (8-1), Italy (6-3), Japan (6-3) and Netherlands (5-4) all advanced to next week's final round in Sendai, Japan.

Up next for Team USA is the NORCECA World Championship Qualifying Tournament in Caguas, Puerto Rico, from Aug. 13 to 19.

SOFTBALL

ELDREDGE ON USA ELITE

Maui's Kaleo Eldredge hit .333 — fourth-best on the U.S. team — at the Canada Cup. It wasn't enough for the USA Elite, which fell to Australia, 3-0, in Sunday's gold-medal game at Surrey, British Columbia.

Team USA finished the Cup 10-1, including a 10-2 win over Australia on Saturday. But in the final, three-time Olympian Melanie Roche pitched a two-hitter and struck out nine, never allowing a runner to reach second base.

Former Rainbow Wahine Stacey Porter, an Olympian for Australia in 2004, went 2 for 3 in Sunday's game.

Eldredge, who won an NCAA Championship at Cal, started eight games for the U.S. Team, which hit .291 and outscored opponents, 47-18.

The USA Elite team next travels to Madrid, Spain, where it plays in the Inter-Continental Cup starting July 20.

TRANSPAC

SAILORS FACE LIGHT WINDS

Diablo, Ralphie, Plan B and Pipe Dream are early division leaders in the 43rd bienniel Transpac yacht race.

Thirty-three yachts began their 2,225-nautical mile trek Monday, leaving Los Angeles for Diamond Head in light 4-knot winds and misty visibility.

Yesterday morning, the yachts encountered more light winds and fog.

The remaining 42 yachts will leave Los Angeles in a few days.

Division 5: 1-Diablo, 2-Soap Opera

Cal 40 Division: 1-Ralphie, 2-Illusion

Aloha A Division: 1-Plan B, 2-Odyssey

Aloha B Division: 1-Pipe Dream, 2-Wind Dancer

MEN'S WATER POLO

Hungary ousts U.S.

Hungary, the top-ranked team in the world, defeated the United States, 11-3, Sunday to end the Americans' hopes of qualifying for the FINA World League Super Finals.

Olympian Brandon Brooks, a Punahou graduate, had six saves for Team USA.

The U.S. team finished last among five teams in its qualifying round at East Meadow, N.Y.

The U.S. team will be competing at the World Championships in Montreal last this month.

The FINA World League Series is a separate series of events from the World Championships.

KAYAKING

KAILUA PADDLER WINS

Kailua's Andy Bussey won the K-2 1000-meter race with Olympic teammate Jeff Smoke at last weekend's Pan American Championships in Lac Beauport, Quebec, Canada.

Bussey and Smoke won in a photo finish over a Brazilian team. They are now training for the World Championships next month in Croatia.

Bussey also won a bronze medal in the K-4 1000. One of his teammates was Kane'ohe's Brandon Woods, who got another bronze in the K-1 1000. Bussey and Woods were on the fifth-place boat in the K-4 500. Woods also took a fifth (K-1) and sixth (K-2) in the 200 races.

The U.S. Senior and Junior teams won nine gold, five silver and 10 bronze medals at the championships.

In the junior races, Honolulu's Eric Abbott and Kailua's Patrick Dolan took silver in the K-4 200, with Hawai'i's Kai Chong and Cole Scott fifth. Abbott and Dolan were fourth in the K-4 500, with Chong and Scott sixth.

The Junior Worlds are next month in Hungary.