State Games honor two Olympians

Tommy Kono

Two former Olympic gold medalists will be honorees of the 1996 Aloha State Games.

Evelyn Kawamoto and Tommy Kono will officially open the games on Friday in ceremonies on the Civic Center lawn next to Honolulu Hale.

Kawamoto won a bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle swim and a bronze in the 400-meter relay in 1952 in Helsinki, Finland.

Kono won weightlifting gold medals in 1952 (Helsinki) and 1956 (Melbourne), and a silver in 1960 (Rome).

The traditional torch-lighting ceremony for the Games will be held tonight at Washington Place.

HAWAII GOLF EXPO

The second annual Hawaii Golf Expo will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.

The new fall line of golf equipment will be on display, and there also will be seminars held by PGA pros as well as opportunities to test new clubs in driving cages and putting greens.

Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and free for children 12 and under accompanied by an adult. For information, call 533-4165.

BESCHEN WINS QUIKSILVER PRO

Shane Beschen of California pocketed $20,000 by winning today's Quiksilver Pro surf meet at G-Land, East Java.

Beschen, who also won last month's Marui Pro in Japan, beat Gary Elkerton of Australia in the finals. Elkerton won $10,000.

Beschen advanced to the final by eliminating Hawaii's Sunny Garcia. In the other semifinal, Elkerton beat defending champion Kelly Slater.

MAUI SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

A national invitational Class D men's slow-pitch softball tournament will be held on Maui from June 14 through 16 at Papohaku Park in Wailuku and Kalama Park in Kihei.

The tournament winner will receive an automatic berth in the National World Series, Sept. 20-22 at Lubbock, Texas.

The deadline to enter is tomorrow. For more information, call Robert Straub at (808) 877-5103 (days) and 879-0820 (evenings).

BOX CAR RACING DATES

The American Box Car Racing International season have been revised from Sundays to Saturdays, beginning June 15 at Leeward Community College. Other summer race dates June 29, July 13 and July 27.

Racers will be divided into age groups of 9-and-under, 10-15 and 16-and-over.

Registration and safety check are at 9 a.m. the day of the race, followed by practice and time trials at noon. Racing begins at 1:30 p.m. For more information, call 947-3393.

SILVERSWORDS SOFTBALL

The Chaminade University softball team has received letters of intent from Robin Matsumoto, a utility player from Sacred Hearts Academy, as well as three high school players from California.

Melissa Lozada, an outfielder from Carlsbad, Calif.; Karen Limon, a pitcher from Rialto, Calif., and Andrea Lopez, a second baseman from Stockton, Calif., also have committed to playing for the Silverswords.

By Star-Bulletin Staff