The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine made a serious run at their first Western Athletic Conference golf title yesterday, but ended up third at the WAC Championship, five shots behind Idaho.

The tournament was played at New Mexico State's University Golf Course. It was Hawai'i's best finish since joining the WAC in 1996. UH had not finished better than sixth the previous six years. The good news continued when UH senior Dale Gammie, a graduate of St. Anthony's on Maui, was named WAC Player of the Year.

The 'Bows led after the first round of the championship and fell to third Tuesday. They closed with a team total (best four-of-five) of 300 for 911. Idaho shot 304-906 and San Jose State 296-909. Two straight birdies by sophomore Nancy Shon helped UH cut its deficit to one after 15 holes, but it played the final three in 7-over.

"I'm very pleased with third place, but we definitely had the trophy in our sights," coach Ashley Biffle said. "I told them I'm proud of them and know they gave their all each and everyday."

Three Hawai'i players finished in the Top 10, with freshman Corie Hou (77-226) getting fourth — nine shots behind medalist Erica Moston of San Jose State. Junior Lisa Kajihara (72-227) tied for fifth and Gammie (74-229) shared ninth. Junior Xyra Suyetsugu (77-230) was 12th and Shon (79-238) 30th.

Idaho gets the automatic NCAA bid. Hawai'i, ranked 40th in the country and 13th in the West Region, hopes to get an at-large bid to its first NCAA Championship on Monday.

Gammie is the first Rainbow Wahine to earn the WAC's top honor and take all-WAC honors all four years. Her stroke average dropped two shots, to 74, this season. Her victory at the Heather Farr Memorial in the fall was the Rainbow Wahine's first individual championship in more than 20 years.

"She's been very solid, very steady all year," Biffle said. "She has our lowest scoring average, the most top fives, top 10s and top 20s. Everybody saw that."

Kaua'i High graduate Lehua Wise, a senior at NMSU, was also named to the WAC first team, and finished 20th at the tournament. Baldwin graduate Kelly Nakashima (77-228), a junior on the winning Idaho team, is a second-team selection and was eighth. Iris Ocariza (78-233), a Boise State freshman out of Moanalua, was 19th.

Kamehameha's Mari Chun, a Stanford sophomore, took third at the Pac-10 Championship today. She shot 75-219 to finish one shot out of first. Waiakea's Amanda Wilson, an Arizona sophomore, was 15th at 77-231.