ISLE FILE
UH golfers finish second in WAC
Advertiser Staff
A late charge in blustery weather came up one shot short for the University of Hawai'i men's golf team yesterday as it finished second to Nevada in the Western Athletic Conference Championships at Reno, Nev.
The Warriors cut 12 shots off their deficit in the final round for their best WAC finish ever.
Hawai'i shot a final-round 294 (best 4 of 5 scores) and finished at 3-under-par 861 for the three days. Nevada (306—860) needed a par from its final player to clinch the win and an NCAA Regional berth. Taylor Coffman was off the green in three on the par-5 18th, but got up and down to clinch the title for the Wolf Pack.
Hawai'i senior Pierre-Henri Soero birdied four of his final six holes to shoot 70—210 and finish third in his final amateur appearance. Soero will turn pro before U.S. Open qualifying at Turtle Bay May 12. Junior Travis Toyama (72—214) took fifth. Both were named to the all-WAC second team, Soero for the second straight year. Nevada's Coffman was named WAC Player and Freshman of the Year.
Fresno State freshman Grant Doverspike closed with a 75 but held on to win medalist honors by a shot at 8-under 208.
Hawai'i's Ryan Perez (77—218) tied for 18th, with Kyle Walters (75—224) 30th and Cody Wolfenbarger (78—227) 37th.
BOXING
MCKEE WINS OPENER
Maui's Keola McKee won his opening-round bout of the National Golden Gloves Tournament yesterday at Chattanooga, Tenn.
McKee, competing at 106 pounds, won a 5-0 decision over Nebraska's Sergio Ramirez.
Three other fighters from Hawai'i lost yesterday: Julian Belmontes (106 pounds) fell to Florida's Daniel Lozano, 5-0; Waimanalo's Bruno Escalante (112) was edged by Maine's Jorge Abiague, 3-2; and Honolulu's Brian Battease (119) lost to Houston's Mercedes Manriquez, 5-0.
In bouts held Monday: Battease won a 5-0 decision over Kansas' Cedick Patterson; Honolulu's Isaac Arasato (132) lost a 4-1 decision to Virginia's Cordaro Simpkins; Wai'anae's Jeffrey Pelen (152) lost a 4-1 decision to Tennessee's Kenneth McNeil Jr.; and, Wahiawa's John Phillips (165) lost to Ohio's Shawn Porter, 5-0.
SURFING
SNOW MOVES ON
Ned Snow of the Big Island advanced to the third round of the Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship yesterday.
The remainder of the first round and half of the second round were completed in 6- to 8-foot waves at Anglet, France.
Snow, the No. 2-ranked longboard surfer in the world in 2006, defeated Australia's Jared Neal, 15.2-11.35. Snow secured the victory with a 8.25 (out of 10) midway through the heat.
Three other Hawai'i surfers have yet to complete their second-round heats: Noah Shimabukuro, Kekoa Uemura and Keegan Edwards. Uemura and Edwards are scheduled to face each other in the second round.
Hawai'i surfers receiving byes in the second round were Duane DeSoto, Bonga Perkins and Kai Sallas.
TENNIS
HILO TO PLAY BYUH
Christie Pagatpatan and Susan Souksavath won their singles matches and teamed for a doubles victory as Hawai'i-Hilo beat Cal State-Los Angeles, 5-3, yesterday in the NCAA II West Regional at La'ie.
Hilo plays host Brigham Young-Hawai'i today at 1 p.m., with the winner earning a berth in the national championship tournament.
LAM LOSES IN SINGLES
In his first singles match since coming back from a wrist injury, Honolulu's Chris Lam was upset by Australia's Adam Kennedy, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), yesterday in the first round of the $10,000 Grand Harbor Saab Classic, in Vero Beach, Fla.
Lam was seeded eighth.
Lam and Ryler De Heart, seeded third in doubles, moved into the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Kristopher Elien and Robbie Parlade. They meet top-seeded Carsten Ball and Dane Fernandez tonight.
