Hawaii Beat

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Thursday, August 7, 1997

Root runs away with
stroke play championship

MAUNA KEA RESORT -- Joe Root, Mauna Kea Resort's director of golf, captured the AT&T Aloha Section PGA Stroke Play Championship yesterday with a final-round 69 for a 54-hole score of 212.

Root finished six strokes ahead of Michael Castillo, the second-round leader from the Poipu Bay Resort, who shot a 76 to finish at 218 yesterday. Kevin Hayashi, the Hilo Municipal pro, was third at 219 with a finishing 72.

The par-3 11th hole, which Root bogeyed the first two days, proved to be a two-stroke swing in his favor yesterday when he sank an eight-foot birdie putt and Castillo bogeyed.

Root also sank a 25-foot birdie putt at the par-4 14th, besides getting birdies at the sixth and eighth holes. His only bogey came at the par-3 17th.

Winner in 1993, Root finished second to David Ishii in the event for the last three years.

"Tee to green was real solid," said Root.

In the Senior Division, Ron Castillo Sr. finished with a 77 for a 54-hole score of 225, eight strokes ahead of Masa Kaya.

UMEMURA SIZZLES: Anna Umemura shot a 69 to take a whopping eight-stroke lead after the first round of the HSWGA Stroke Play Championship yesterday at the Mid-Pacific Country Club.

Umemura carded six birdies and two bogeys in a runaway bid to become the first to win all three women's majors locally. The Punahou graduate won the HSWGA Match Play Championship and the Jennie K. Invitational titles earlier this year.

Summerset Lovett and Christel Tomori were a distant second with 77s. The 54-hole tournament ends tomorrow.

FRENCH TEAM HOLDS FISHING LEAD: At Kailua-Kona, the Luc Fishing Team from France had one tag and release marlin catch yesterday by Luc Vandewalle to remain in first place at the Hawaiian International Billfish tournament with 1,131 points.

Nevada Billfish Club, Moana Kai Fishing Club and Mauna Kea Sport Fishing Club are tied for second with 900 points.

There were 19 tag and release catches yesterday for a total of 47.

FIVE SURFERS ADVANCE: At Huntington Beach, Calif., surfing on a giant swell generated by hurricane Guillermo, Bruce Irons and Jeremy Doudt of Hanalei and Love Hodel of Haleiwa won their heats in round six of trials in the G-Shock U.S. Open yesterday.

Advancing with second-place finishes were Waipahu's Braden Dias and Haleiwa's Mikala Jones.

WAHINE RANKED 10TH: The University of Hawaii women's volleyball team is the preseason No. 10 pick in the College Sports News Daily poll released today.

College Sports Daily, an online internet service devoted to college sports, has the Wahine's WAC rival, Brigham Young, as the top selection.

Defending national champion Stanford is No. 2, followed by Long Beach State, Florida, Nebraska and Washington State. Rounding out the Top 10 are Southern Cal, Penn State, Texas and Hawaii.

The College Sports News Daily internet address is http://chili.collegesportsnews.com.

HAWAII ADVANCES: At Crystal Lake, Ill., Hawaii completed pool play with a 3-2 record to qualify for championship-bracket play in the Continental Amateur Baseball Association World Series for 15 year olds.

CABA TEAM OUSTED: At Tarkio, Mo., the Hawaii team in the Continental Amateur Baseball Association World Series for 11-year-olds was eliminated, 10-2, by Tennessee yesterday after beating Guam, 12-0 earlier in the day.

TWO-HITTER FOR SOLOMON: At Aurelia, Iowa, Donovan Solomon held Mexico to two hits in a 11-2 victory for Hawaii in the Continental Amateur Baseball Association World Series for 10-year-olds yesterday.

KEIKI BODYBOARD CONTEST: The 15th annual Waimanalo Keiki Bodyboard Contest will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Waimanalo Bay Recreation area.

Entry forms are at most surf shops. Beach entries are accepted. For more information, call Bob Thomas at 396-2326.

SOCCER CLINIC: A clinic featuring former Brazilian soccer pro Frank Queiroz will be held Saturday and Sunday at Kapiolani Park, field No. 5, from 3 to 6 p.m.

The clinic repeats Aug. 16-17.

The fee is $45 per weekend and there is a limit of 30 players. To make a reservation or for more information, call 533-0134.