ISLE FILE
Three pros qualify for U.S. Open sectional

Advertiser Staff

Professionals Brian Sasada, David Havens and Edward Lee advanced to the U.S. Open sectionals after finishing atop the local qualifier yesterday on the North Course at Ka'anapali Golf Course.

Sasada and Havens shot 3-under 69s, Lee shot 71.

Five golfers finished at 72. Darren Summers birdied the first playoff hole and is the first alternate. Fred Sutton is the second alternate, followed by Shaun Pederson and Samuel Cyr.Ê

The first of four local qualifiers was held Friday at Turtle Bay. Pierre-Henri Soero, Regan Lee, Joe Phengsavath and Shizuo Mori earned spots for a sectional.

Other local qualifiers will be played on Kaua'i (Thursday at Po'ipu Bay) and the Big Island (next Monday at Waikoloa Beach).

There are 14 sectionals around the country. The Hawai'i sectional is June 6 at Ka'anapali.

The top finishers at the sectionals qualify for the U.S. Open June 16 to 19 at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort and Country Club.

TRACK AND FIELD

UH sixth in WAC

The University of Hawai'i women's track and field team finished sixth yesterday at the Western Athletic Conference Championships, the program's highest finish since it began participating in the meet five years ago.

Louisiana Tech won the meet with 184 points, followed by Rice (159) and Fresno State (99.5). The Rainbow Wahine scored 69 points. UH's previous best was 49 points and eighth place in 2002.

Novelle Murray, who was the two-time defending WAC champ in the discus, finished second in the event yesterday with a throw of 174 yards, 6 inches. Rice's Krystal Robinson won with 179-2. Murray also finished third in the hammer throw in 184-5.

UH's Kelly Young finished third in the 400-meter hurdles (59.62 seconds). Patricia Gautheir was third in the pole vault, clearing 12-5 1/2.

Six UH athletes have qualified for the NCAA West Regionals, May 27 and 28 in Eugene, Ore.