GRANT ELLIS/TOSTEE.COM Australian Todd Prestage advanced to the round of 64 surfers and will take on compatriot Mark Bannister and Brazilians Flavio Padaratz and Marcelo Nunes in his next heat.

Haleiwa pounds Padaca

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Star-Bulletin staff

The defending Vans Triple Crown champion was eliminated in the second round of the Vans Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa yesterday, meaning Myles Padaca will have to overcome a large deficit to keep his crown.

Padaca could never quite take advantage of the improved 6-8 foot swell, finishing fourth in his heat. He is currently in 81st place in the first event of the three-event series.

Yesterday's action also featured a couple of local upsets. In heat 11, Hawaii surfers Sean Yano and Kekoa Bacalso ousted highly regarded international products Greg Emslie and Luke Hitchings.

BYUH survives desperate HPU

Yu Chuan Weng buried 24 kills and recorded 12 digs as the Brigham Young-Hawaii volleyball team beat Hawaii Pacific 30-27, 25-30, 17-30, 30-22, 15-13 last night at St. Andrews Priory.

The Sea Warriors (14-9, 6-4) needed to have a good game against the No. 3 team in the nation to have any hope of making the regional tournament.

The Seasiders (22-2, 9-1) will learn their seeding tomorrow.

Hawaii swim team splits with UCSB

Hawaii's swimming and diving teams split a dual meet with California-Santa Barbara yesterday at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatics Complex.

The 22nd-ranked Rainbows ran their dual record to 9-0 with a 138-92 victory, highlighted by Peter Thew in two events. Thew earned an NCAA "B" standard qualifying time in the 200 free and won the 100 fly.

The Wahine lost to UCSB 137-81 to fall to 2-6 on the season. YingJuan Zhen won the 100 back with an NCAA "B" standard time of 56.76. Yan Chen also scored a "B" qualification with a second place finish in the 400 individual medley in 4:19.54.

Wahine hoop tickets on sale tomorrow

Individual game tickets for the 2002-03 Rainbow Wahine basketball season go on sale tomorrow at the Stan Sheriff Center box office and Ticket Plus.

Prices are $7 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and $4 for University of Hawaii students and children under 18. Ticket prices for the Rainbow Wahine Classic run $1 more per division, respectively.

Chang leads Wahine to 9th place at Regional

At Palo Alto, Calif., host team Stanford ran away from the field, but Hawaii earned a best-ever 9th place at the NCAA West Regional cross country championships yesterday.

The Wahine were led by Victoria Chang, who finished 12th, and learns tomorrow if she qualifies to run in the NCAA Championships Nov. 25.

"I don't feel that I did all that great today, but my teammates did really well," Chang said. "We all got out quickly and held the pace throughout the entire race."

Wie, Eubank take lead at Hawaii State Open

At Makena, Maui, Michelle Wie increased her lead heading into today's final day and Tom Eubank seized a four-stroke advantage in the respective men's and women's divisions of the Hawaii State Open yesterday.

Wie has shot 67-71-138 for an eight-shot lead over Cindy Rarick. Eubank trailed by one after the first day, but started with a hot 31 on the front nine to spur his comeback.

Mike Iyoki and Larry Stubblefield are tied for the senior division lead at 144.

Hawaii's Takefuji Classic finds a home in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS >> The LPGA'S Takefuji Classic is leaving Hawaii for Las Vegas next year and raising its purse to $1.1 million.

The LPGA Tour has not had an event in Las Vegas since the season-ending Tour Championship in 1999. That tournament left for Florida when the host course, the Desert Inn, was closed under new management.

"Las Vegas has a history of welcoming the LPGA, and we look forward to returning to the area again next year," LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw said yesterday.

The Takefuji Classic will be played April 17-19 at Las Vegas Country Club.

It had been the first tournament of the year when it was played in Hawaii. Annika Sorenstam is the defending champion.