Posted on: Wednesday, April 9, 2008
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Choy's golf game as sharp as ever for Lobos
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
Sometimes confidence can make all the difference in the world.
And right now Britney Choy has a whole lot of confidence in her golf game.
The University of New Mexico sophomore, a 2006 Leilehua graduate and Wahiawa native, finished a team-best 11th at the PING/Arizona State Invitational.
She shot rounds of 70, 74 and 74 at the par-72 Karsten Golf Course to finish 2-over-par 218 in a tournament that concluded Sunday in Tempe, Ariz.
"Britney's a very determined young woman," New Mexico coach Jill Trujillo said. "She's always very level headed and has a whole lot of fight."
Choy had surgery on her back last summer and did not compete in the fall.
"She didn't really like having to sit out first semester, but she had to because of the surgery," Trujillo said. "Come spring time, though, she was ready to go."
Choy, who is averaging 75.55 strokes, placed third at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational two weeks ago in Austin, Texas. It was her best individual finish.
"She's made leaps and bounds on her game," Trujillo said. "Her putting has improved incredibly, but she just needs to keep playing and keep that competitive spirit."
Trujillo believes Choy is beginning to hit her stride.
"I think she's at the top of her game right now," said the first-year Lobos' coach. "She's peaking at the right time. She's got the confidence and she knows she's playing well."
Choy and the Lobos are looking forward to the Mountain West Conference Championship, April 17 to 19, in Albuquerque, N.M. The tournament will be held on New Mexico's home course.
MORE WOMEN'S GOLF
Stanford junior Mari Chun (Kamehameha '05 of Pearl City) finished in a tie for 42nd at the PING/ASU Invitational. Chun shot rounds of 73-77-76 to finish 10-over 226. The Cardinal tied for 14th.
MEN'S GOLF
Gonzaga senior Reyn Tanaka (Mid-Pacific '04 of Kailua) finished in a tie for 16th yesterday at the Colorado-Stevinson Ranch Invitational at Stevinson, Calif. Tanaka shot 78-70-76—224 at the par-72 Stevinson Ranch Club course.
San Francisco junior Kurt Nino (Damien '05 of Honolulu) finished in a tie for 30th after shooting 73-80-74—227 and junior Edward Han (Maryknoll '05 of Waipahu) tied for 61st with 80-76-79—235. Nino tied for 49th (80-76) 13-over 229 at the Ogio Pacific Coast Intercollegiates in Solvang, Calif. two weeks ago.
SOFTBALL
Brigham Young senior right fielder Emi Snow-Willing (Kamehameha '04 of Mililani) had a double in Thursday's 9-5 win over New Mexico. She played catcher and went 1 for 3 in the first game of the doubleheader. Snow-Willing hit her seventh double of the year and drove in a run in a 9-2 win over Colorado State Friday. She went 2 for 4 with a triple, three RBIs and a run scored in a 6-1 victory in the second game.
East Carolina sophomore shortstop Kaui Tom (Kamehameha '06 of Kailua) went 2 for 4 with an RBI in a 6-3 loss to Marshall Sunday in the first game of a doubleheader. Sophomore outfielder Charina Sumner (Kamehameha '06 of Kailua) went 1 for 4 with a triple. Sophomore third baseman Cristen Aona (Punahou '06 of Kapolei) went 2 for 3 with a double in the second game, a 5-3 loss.
New Mexico State freshman first baseman Hoku Nohara (Kamehameha '07 of Waimanalo) went 2 for 4 with a double in a 10-4 win over Louisiana Tech Friday.
Pacific University (Forest Grove, Ore.) sophomore second baseman Kelly Nishitomi (Castle '06 of Kane'ohe) went 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored in an 11-3 win over Pacific Lutheran Sunday. She batted 2 for 3 with a stolen base in a 7-1 loss in the second game.
BASEBALL
Penn State junior second baseman Landon Nakata (Punahou '05) got on base in all four at-bats in an 8-3 win over Bucknell last Wednesday. Nakata had a single, walked twice and was hit by a pitch, but did score a run batting in the eighth spot. Nakata had one of the Nittany Lions' four hits and drew a pair of walks in a 1-0 loss to Michigan Saturday. He scored a run and walked twice in the second game of the doubleheader, a 6-3 loss. In Sunday's series finale, Nakata went 1 for 2, with two walks and a run scored in a 10-1 win.
Southern Utah junior third baseman Chester Wilson (Saint Louis '05 of Honolulu) went 3 for 4 with four RBIs and three runs scored in an 18-6 win over Brigham Young last Wednesday. Junior infielder Keli'i Zablan (Saint Louis '05 of 'Ewa Beach) went 4 for 5 with a double, two RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base. Sophomore designated hitter Bucky Aona (Punahou '06 of Makakilo) had a single and scored twice. Junior center fielder Nick Freitas (Kamehameha '05 of Honolulu) scored three runs. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Alec Reichle (Kaua'i '04 of Koloa) picked up his first win of the season, giving up four runs — one earned — in five innings.
BYU junior first baseman Kasey Ko (Punahou '05 of Kailua) was 1 for 4 with an RBI in the loss to Southern Utah. Ko batted 2 for 3 with an RBI in a 10-7 win over UNLV Thursday.
Central Arizona sophomore outfielder C.J. Johnson ('Iolani '06) went 6 for 16 in four games against Pima College and Arizona Western last week. Johnson, who is batting .403, had four doubles and five RBIs, and scored four runs.
Linfield (McMinnville, Ore.) senior infielder Shannon Chung (Kalani '05 of Kane'ohe) had two RBIs and scored eight runs as the Wildcats swept four games from Pacific University. Chung is batting .341 and has a .989 fielding percentage. The Wildcats (17-3) are first in the Northwest Conference.
Pacific sophomore designated hitter Kaeo Lau Hee (Kamehameha-Maui '06 of Pukalani) had six hits and two RBIs in the series.
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Stanford sophomore setter Kawika Shoji ('Iolani '05 of Honolulu) had 45 assists, two kills, two digs and two aces in a sweep of UC San Diego Friday. Freshman outside hitter Spencer McLachlin (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) had 11 kills against one error on 26 attempts for a .385 hitting percentage. He also had 11 digs, an ace and was in on three blocks. Freshman libero Jordan Inafuku (Kamehameha '06 of Honolulu) had eight digs and three assists. Shoji had 28 assists, three digs and a kill in Saturday's three-game loss to Long Beach State. McLachlin had 11 kills, five digs, an ace and three block assists and Inafuku added six digs.
Cal State Northridge senior outside hitter Isaac Kneubuhl (Kamehameha '03 of Pukalani) had 11 kills against two errors on 24 attempts for a .375 kill percentage in a three-game sweep of UCLA Friday.
UC Irvine junior libero Brent Asuka ('Iolani '05 of 'Aiea) had eight digs and two assists in Saturday's three-game sweep of UC Santa Barbara.
WOMEN'S WATER POLO
Long Beach State junior Keala O'Sullivan (Kamehameha '05 of Waimanalo) has six goals and four assists while playing in all 23 games for the 49ers this season. LBSU hosts Hawai'i Friday in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match.
Siena junior Lauren Garrigan (Kamehameha '05 of Kailua) scored two goals in a 15-4 loss to Marist Saturday. Garrigan rebounded to lift the Saints' to a 14-12 overtime over Wagner. She tied her career high with five goals and also had four assists.
MEN'S WATER POLO
Colorado senior Nick Engebretson (Punahou '04) was named to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference First Team and a Third-Team All-Amer ican by the Collegiate Water Polo Organization.
WOMEN'S ROWING
Southern California junior Denise Kobashikawa (Maryknoll '05 of Honolulu) helped her crew finish second (7:12.20) in the grand final for the Carley Copley Cup at the San Diego Crew Classic last weekend. Kobashikawa, who competes in the Open Eight class, was a recipient of the USC Community Service Award.
MEN'S WRESTLING
Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) junior Johanson Quist (Hilo '05 of Hilo) earned All-America honors after an eighth-place finish in the 149-pound division at the NCAA Division III National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa last month. Quist was a two-time high school wrestling state champion and also captured a judo state title his senior season. He is believed to be the first Division III All-American from Hawai'i.
COMMITMENTS
University High senior Brennan Clark has committed to play women's volleyball at Boston College. Clark, an Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II first-team selection, will join Kamehameha's Jordan Meredith on the Eagles' squad. Meredith signed her commitment in November.
Konawaena senior Jennie Barto will play for the Cal State Chico women's soccer team and classmate Mana Hopkins has committed to the Hawai'i Pacific women's basketball team.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
