Hawaii Beat

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Thursday, May 15, 1997

Bowen claims U.S. Open qualifying spot

Kapalua professional Brad Bowen gained Hawaii's lone qualifying spot for the U.S. Open by birdieing his final two holes for a 71 yesterday at the Navy-Marine golf course.

Bowen advances to the sectional qualifying June 2 at the El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, Calif. Daryl Inaba shot a par-72 to become the first alternate.

This year's U.S. Open is at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., June 12-15.

HPU ALL-AMERICANS: Two members of Hawaii Pacific University's top-ranked softball team were named NAIA second-team All-Americans yesterday by Louisville Slugger and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Honored were senior outfielder Michele Ringor and junior first baseman Felisa Pascua. Both were first team picks last season.

SHIMOOKA LOSES, WINS: At Ikumi Beach, Japan, Hawaii surfer John Shimooka lost his heat but won $1,000 at the Tokushima Pro stop on the ASP World Tour.

Shimooka was eliminated by Australian Jake Paterson in his Round 2 heat, 29.15-26.90. But, Shimooka's score was worth $1,000 from the Mitchell Surfing Foundation for the top-scoring surfer ousted in Round 2.

Three other Hawaii surfers were eliminated yesterday: Conan Hayes, Kaipo Jaquias and Shawn Sutton. Still alive in the 32-man draw for today's Round 3 are Hawaii's Kalani Robb, Shane Dorian, Sunny Garcia, Derek Ho and Ross Williams.

TENNIS DEADLINE NEARS: The last day to enter the Hawaii Sectional Open tennis tourney is tomorrow.

Competition in the three-day event, set for May 24-26 at the Diamond Head and Ala Moana courts, will be in men's and women's singles and doubles. It is open to Hawaii residents only.

For more information, contact Don Andrews at 971-7150.

WEEKEND RACING: Open street racing is on tap tomorrow night and handicap drag races for military team points are scheduled for Saturday night at Hawaii Raceway Park.

Admission is $6 and the gates open at 6 p.m. For additional ore information, call 841-3724.

EMMY FOR WINTER BASEBALL: The Hawaii Winter Baseball weekly magazine program entitled, "Road to the Show," seen on KFVE last fall, received a regional Emmy Saturday in San Francisco in the Sports-Series category.

The producer/director was Michael Yasutake, the host/writer was Scott Culbertson, the segment producer was Edward McLaurin and the videographer was Rubin Carrillo.

GOLF BENEFIT: The first Maui fund-raiser for the Kapiolani Children's Miracle Network is May 24 at the Kapalua Plantation Course.

The entry fee is $130 per player and the field is limited to 144 golfers. For information or to register, call Bill Myers or Peter Moracco at (808) 871-6364.

VOLLEYBALL BACK TO VEGAS: The Western Athletic Conference women's postseason volleyball tournament will return to the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas for a second year, WAC Deputy Commissioner Margie McDonald announced.

The Nov. 24-28 tournament will feature 12 of the 16 conference teams, the top six each from the Pacific and Mountain divisions. The four first-round matches will be held Nov. 24, followed by the quarterfinal-round Nov. 25.

The semifinals are set for Nov. 26, with the teams taking off Thanksgiving Day before the Nov. 28 championship final. Ticket prices are $30 for an all-session pass for 11 matches or $8 per each of the six sessions.

All-sessions tickets are available beginning Aug. 1 with single-session tickets available beginning Nov. 24. To order tickets, call the MGM Grand at 1-800-929-1111.

Last season, the University of Hawaii was runner-up to Brigham Young in the inaugural tourney.

SEASIDERS PRESEASON NO. 1: Three-time defending NAIA women's volleyball champion Brigham Young-Hawaii was the preseason No. 1 pick in the coaches' poll released recently.

The Seasiders earned all nine first-place votes for 225 points, 14 points ahead of Point Loma Nazarene, which lost to BYUH in the title match. Hawaii Pacific was picked 15th.

The Seasiders, 30-1 last year, have won a record seven NAIA titles, including five of the last six. Hawaii teams have won 13 of 16 championships since 1981.

with Hawaii-Hilo earning five and Hawaii Pacific one.