Hawai'i's Pierre-Henri Soero shot a 4-under-par 68 and was tied for second, two strokes behind leader Grant Doverspike of Fresno State after the first round yesterday of the Western Athletic Conference men's golf championship at Reno, Nev.

The Warriors were in third place after shooting a 5-under 283 (best four of five scores) in the nine-team field.

Nevada was first at 278, followed by Fresno State (281). Boise State was fourth at 28.

Soero, a senior from Noumea, New Caledonia, was tied with Chase Cooper of Nevada and Boise State's Chris Byrne and John Baranco.

Hawai'i's Kyle Waters and Ryan Perez each shot 71s and were tied for 10th. Travis Toyama (73) was tied for 22nd and Cody Wolfenbarger (76) tied for 31st.

UH WOMEN EARN FIRST NCAA REGIONAL BERTH

The University of Hawai'i women's golf team earned its first NCAA West Regional berth when it was awarded an at-large bid yesterday.

UH will be the NCAA West Regional's 13th seed May 10 to 12 at the Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club in St. George, Utah.

UH finished third at the Western Athletic Conference Championship last week. Senior Dale Gammie was named the WAC Golfer of the Year.