When Joaquin Banuilos heard the message on his answering machine to call the Star-Bulletin yesterday, he said he thought he owed money."I thought I didn't pay my bill and I had the stub ready to tell them I did," said the 62-year-old federal engineering technician from Pearl City.
When Banuilos called the paper, he found out the Star-Bulletin owed him money: $500 for winning the weekly Football Fever contest.
"It was a big surprise because I never won anything like this before," he said.
Banuilos did it with the best score he's ever recorded after three years in the contest - 9-1.
The only game he didn't predict correctly was the San Diego at Oakland match, won by the Chargers.
In order to qualify for the final drawing, Banuilos had to score as well as or better than the best score on the celebrity panel.
The top celebrity score of 7-3 was posted by three panelists: Star-Bulletin sportswriter Cindy Luis, KHNL's Robert Kekaula and KCCN's Charly Espina.
Following those three were KCCN's Brickwood Galuteria and KHON-Fox2's Leslie Wilcox, who each scored 6-4. Star-Bulletin columnist Mike Fitzgerald was 4-6.
Luis moved into first place on the season with a 28-12 record.
"The signing of John Kolius has catapulted Aloha Racing from an unknown island challenge to a syndicate to be reckoned with," chairman Jim Bailey said.
A veteran of four America's Cup competitions, Kolius skippered his first America's Cup yacht, Courageous, in 1983. He was at the helm of America II in Perth, Australia trials.
In 1992, Kolius coached the Italian Il Moro di Venezia and in 1995 he coached the America3 team.
The University of Oregon was in first with a combined team score of 306, 18 over par. Hawaii was at 344, 56 over par.
Kylie Wilson of Oregon topped the individual scoring with a 1-under 71. Dawn Kaneshiro led Hawaii with a 9-over 81.
General ticket sales will begin on Nov. 1. For additional information, call ticket manager Richard Scott at 933-3520.
The team plays out of Keauhou Beach Tennis and the members are Ak Shingle, Wendy Wagner, Diane Dahlberg, Marie Kelly, Laura Kirihara, Cynda Unger, Val Corcoran, Alfie Eldridge, Irene Izumi, Sue Brown, Debbie Mimaki, Wendy Pritikin and Sue Welton.
The members are Etsuko Chida, Karen Hamada, Arlene Kuniyoshi, Rowena Liu, Lynette Loo, Ruth Nihei, Barbara White, Audrey Yamamoto and Aileen Yoshida.