ISLE FILE
Watabu ousted from U.S. Amateur golf
Advertiser Staff
Trip Kuehne of Dallas defeated Kaua'i's Casey Watabu, 2 and 1, in the second round yesterday of the U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.
"It wasn't my best ball-striking day," Watabu told USGA staff writer David Shefter. "I didn't make any putts. You can't expect to win a match, especially against Trip, where his game is so well-rounded that you've got to play well. I didn't deserve to beat him."
Watabu, 22, was 1-up after Kuehne three-putted the sixth green. But Kuehne, 34, squared the match on the par-5 seventh when he reached in two and two-putted for birdie.
Kuehne won the eighth and ninth with pars, and would not trail again although a bogey on No. 12 cut his lead to one.
Kuehne went 2-up with a birdie on the par-5 15th, after a perfect drive with a crushing 3-wood that left him just 38 yards from the flag.
Meanwhile, Watabu found three bunkers and took four shots to reach the green. Kuehne's bump-and-run pitch stopped 2 feet from the cup, and Watabu conceded the birdie.
The players halved the next two holes, with the match ending on the par-3 17th.
"Today was the day (to possibly beat Kuehne)," Watabu said. "We both didn't play well. He just made less mistakes."
VOLLEYBALL
CHAMINADE SWEEPS
Evelyn Bluthenthal hammered 15 kills and Trina Kauliakamoa added 13 kills and 10 digs as Chaminade swept Wheeling Jesuit (W.Va.), 30-14, 30-22, 30-27, last night in the Hawaiian Style Classic at Hilo civic.
Chelsea Powell added 11 digs and Lila Sapolu added 10 for the Silverswords, who are competing in the tournament along with Hawai'i's three other small college women's teams.
In other matches, Western New Mexico defeated Hawai'i Pacific, 25-30, 30-17, 30-25, 30-20; Brigham Young-Hawai'i defeated Seattle Pacific, 30-25, 30-27, 30-24; and Findlay (Ohio) defeated host Hawai'i-Hilo, 36-34, 30-18, 30-20.
USA BEATS GUATEMALA
Team USA evened its record at 1-1 in the NORCECA Boys (19-under) Youth Continental Championship, defeating Guatemala, 25-14, 25-28, 25-19.
The U.S. team is coached by University of Hawai'i men's associate coach Tino Reyes. Juniors Brad Lawson (Iolani) and Erik Shoji (Punahou) are on the team.
Puerto Rico, which beat the U.S. opening day, remains unbeaten along with Cuba. The top two teams in this tournament, being played at Bayaguana, Dominican Republic, qualify for the 2007 FIVB World Championship. Quarterfinals are scheduled for today with the finals Sunday.
SOCCER
CHAMINADE SIGNS THREE
Chaminade announced the signing of three former Hawai'i high school standouts for its men's soccer program.
Playing for the Silverswords this season will be goalkeeper Darren Smith, the 2003 O'ahu Interscholastic Association Player of the Year from Mililani; midfielder Kirtus Adams, the 2005 Interscholastic League of Honolulu Player of the Year from Iolani; and Chad Nishikuni, a Maui Interscholastic League all-star from Baldwin.
Chaminade opens its season Sept. 2 against visiting Embry-Riddle of Arizona.
CORRECTION
BOOSTERS PAY THEIR WAY
'Ahahui Koa Anuenue, the University of Hawai'i athletic department's umbrella booster group, will not be taking any boosters to next week's Alabama football game as was reported in a print editions yesterday.
Any boosters who attend the game will be traveling on their own, UH officials said.
