Forty-two teams from around the world have gathered in Kailua, Kona on the Big Island for the 50th Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.

The five-day tournament starts today, with daily fish weigh-ins slated to begin at 4 p.m.

The field includes anglers from Hawai'i, California, Florida, North Carolina, Australia, Bermuda, Japan, New Zealand, Tahiti and South Africa.

Laguna Niguel Billfish Club No. 2 of California captured the championship last year after a 64-year-old tax accountant, Robert Dudley, caught a 973-pound Pacific blue marlin on the second day of the tournament and a 693-pounder two days later.

The fish were the second and 11th largest caught in the history of the prestigious tournament.

ATHLETICS

HAWAI'I-HILO NAMES THREE AD FINALISTS

Dr. Luoluo Hong, vice chancellor for student affairs and acting athletic director at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo, yesterday announced that three finalists have been selected for the school's permanent athletic director position.

The finalists are: Dexter Irwin, Dixie State College athletic director; Joshua Doody, Notre Dame de Namur University athletic director, and Dr. Troy Franklin, former Mid-Plains Community College Area Associate Dean of Student Life and former New Mexico State University associate athletic director for Student Development.

More than 100 applications were received.

Hawai'i-Hilo is a Division II NCAA institution and a member of the Pacific West Conference.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

WONG FALLS IN FINAL AT MANHATTAN BEACH

Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal defeated Matt Olson and Punahou alum Kevin Wong, 21-17, 23-21, yesterday in the final of the Manhattan Beach (Calif.) Open.

The winners split $24,000 while the runners-up split $18,000.

Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs beat Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan, 21-17, 21-14 to win the women's title.